Racing into the Holidays

With Christmas right around the corner, HOSA, Health Occupations Students of America, got everyone into the spirit of the holidays by hosting their 2nd annual Elf Fun Run. Participants from across Saline County dressed in their most festive outfits and ran the 5k Dec. 7.  

HOSA has been a club at Bryant High School for two years, and members came up with the idea of a fun run last year. The club was trying to think of ideas for fundraisers and wanted to avoid selling candy and snacks. Instead, the club members decided to raise money in a healthy way through a 5k.  

Around 60 people showed up to support HOSA, including Mayor Allen Scott, who moved his “Coffee with the Mayor” location to the Fun Run site to bring in more people. HOSA also added a new aspect to this year’s event by having a kids zone, which included activities such as face painting, making reindeer cookies, coloring and games. Then, the kids could participate in the race by running around the track. 

HOSA also held a toy drive, which was the entry fee for the kids zone. Everything was donated to charity. Parents had the option to donate a new toy or $10. HOSA sponsor Bree Keith wanted the event to be more than just a 5k. 

“Our runners had everything, from free hot chocolate to coffee and donuts,” Keith said. “We didn’t want [people] to just come and run, we wanted people to come and socialize and for it to be a community event for the school.”