Annandale VA: Braddock Elementary's Walk-4-Education fundraising .

Braddock Elementary School in Annandale held its first annual Walk-4-Education walk-a-thon Thursday to produce money for the children of the Braddock community and push the grandness of wellness and fitness.

The children walked a designated path about the school(at 7825 Heritage Drive) marked by Braddock`s physical education teachers, Ken Jackson and Alex Winiewicz-one mile for kindergarten and first-grade students, two miles for s and third-graders, and 3 miles for quarter and fifth-graders. Teachers, other faculty, and parents, walked, too. The end was 100 percent participation. It was scheduled for Veterans` Day, so parents could do and rest for a special Thanksgiving lunch with their children and an assembly.

"Everything was perfect - gorgeous blue skies with perfect weather conditions, fun, health, fitness, and smiles. Many, many smiles!" says Braddock PTA President Mike Tran. "Kids, parents, teachers, and staff loved the event. It was a huge success at all levels."

Before the Walk-4-Education event, Braddock students sent letters to their relatives and neighbors asking them to frequent them and draw a contribution on their behalf. The Peak on Columbia Pike and Elephantine in the Bradlick Shopping Center donated bottled water and new fruit at the last line, and Uncle Slam from the Potomac Nationals baseball team cheered on the kids and shook each of their hands.

Due to the gain in the amount of students at Braddock this year, "we are supporting all families within passing distance to walk their children to train to ease the congestion in the `kiss and ride`lanes," Tran says. "Many parents have initiated this even prior to the request from our principal, Cindy Botzin, as we receive many parents who think in sound health and fitness for their children and themselves." The Braddock PTA has emphasized fundraising efforts that that promote health, fitness, education, and bringing families together and moved away from activities like selling gift wrap and merchandise, he says. "Today was a pure representative of a community coming together for one worthy cause - our children, our future."