For the last six years, Air Academy has hosted the Dream Dash 5K for fundraising.

The National Honor Society students have hosted this event in the past and are continuing the tradition in hopes to make a kid’s Make-a-Wish ‘wish’ true. NHS students partake in various means of fundraising; for instance, the CandyGram event in February is one of the methods used in raising money for the Make-a-Wish goal. But the greatest fundraising we get is from the Dream Dash in May.

Last year, the school raised $10,225 in total for Make-a-Wish; let’s meet our goal again this year. In a letter from Sarah Grosh, the Kids for Wish Kids manager, the team thanked us for the fundraising; this year she is working hand in hand with the school, aspiring to grant another kid’s wish.

“You made a huge impact and we are so grateful for your support,” wrote Grosh.

The Make-a-Wish foundation is dedicated to granting children with terminal illnesses a wish – something to cross off their bucket lists.  Last year, our school sent Amya to France for her wish. This year, we have Gabe: a young boy who wants to go to Legoland. Gabe has cystic fibrosis, as does his twin brother, who is also a Make-a-Wish child. This terminal illness has no cure and we hope to raise $10,000 to help grant his wish.

The Dream Dash usually takes place the second week of May. It will take place on Saturday, May 12th, 10 a.m.,  at Quail Lake Park. Participants will receive a  5K T-shirt and a Make-a-Wish Colorado bracelet.

So, if you like running, here’s a cause to show that. Or, if you’re anything like me, you only run if there’s food or someone’s chasing you, there is a walking event. If you already planned on attending, get your friends in on it. Run or walk with a pal, a family member, somebody. 

Track and Cross Country kids are welcome too!

“We can’t run in other events than the team’s,” said an anonymous student. She claimed that she could not participate in last year’s events as it was against team policy. However, with further research, I found that one must obtain approval from the coaches, not that participation in other runs are prohibited.

“I got third! I knew it wasn’t really a race, but I still got third,” said Sean Riley, who participated in last year’s 5K.

If you cannot participate that day due to prior commitments, there are alternative ways to help raise money for our Make-a-Wish goal. You can talk to an NHS member about sponsoring for the race by donating. If you donate more than $100, your business logo can be placed on the T-shirts. In order to be featured on T-shirts, your donation must be sent in by the 1st of May. This donation is tax-deductible, too. Go to [this link] for more information and the donation form. Any size donation is accepted. Any and all proceeds go to the Make-a-Wish foundation.

The Make-a-Wish spirit week is coming up too! Keep an eye out for the posters around the school and be ready to go all out in a Gabe-themed spirit week!

Let’s send Gabe to Legoland like he dreams of!

For more information, talk to any NHS member, go online or visit Ms. Smitherman in room 516. She asks that hopeful participants register by the 4th of May in order to guarantee a T-shirt on race day. The registration form is online at [this link] and is open until 12 PM on the 10th. After that, participants must register and pay on race day.

Let’s send our Make-a-Wish kid on his dream trip this year too!