SANDPOINT — With music blasting and their class flags waving high in the sky, Farmin-Stidwell students took to the field Thursday morning, running a combined total of 10,655 laps.

The elementary students began gathering pledges last week with the goal of raising $10,000 and, as of Thursday, they had exceeded that goal.

“It was a great success all around,” said Stephanie Reimann, president of the school’s Partners in Education group, which organized the event. “As a first-time fundraiser for our school, we could not of asked for a better outcome.”

The Boosterthon fun run replaced the school’s traditional fall fundraiser this year. The program is a pledge-based fundraiser designed to promote fitness, fun and community in schools across the nation. It kicked off with a “Wild West”-themed assembly last week, followed by daily class challenges and videos over the course of nine days.

“Teachers and students alike really enjoyed the daily character building videos throughout the nine-day program,” Reimann said. “Character traits including kindness, humility, honesty, gratitude and generosity were highlighted in a fun and interesting storyline. The actual fun run event where the kids ran laps for pledges spotlighted not only fitness but a whole school community event where all children, whether they had pledges or not, ran together. Teachers, parents, grandparents and students all cheered for everyone to make their target of 35 laps in 30 minutes. It was such great, positive energy the whole event.

The funds will primarily go toward playground equipment, because some of the older equipment that the students enjoyed was removed before school started, Reimann said. Some of the money raised will also go toward classroom upgrades, she said.

The students earned a variety of prizes based on pledges per lap, and Reimann said they received pledges from people in 33 states across the country.

“We are so thankful to all who sponsored our students,” Reimann said.

They will continue accepting flat pledges through Oct. 10 as well. Anyone who knows a Farmin-Stidwell student is encouraged to contact that student and their family, or contact the school. If you do not know a student, but would like to help out anyway, contact the school at 208-265-2417 or email the PIE group at farminstidwellpie@gmail.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.