Orrville Elementary School is off to a strong start as students begin preparing for the school’s first annual Fit and Fun(d) Run, scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Red Rider Stadium. During this special event, all OES students in grades K-4 will take part in a 30-minute race designed to promote wellness while also raising funds for student incentives, experiences, and field trips.
Mid-Ohio Race Management will help lead the event, with each grade level participating at a scheduled time throughout the day. Students will wear official race bibs, and the school will keep track of the total number of laps completed by all participants. Staff members will also have the opportunity to get involved and join in the excitement.
As students look ahead to race day, the focus is on preparation. Each classroom is setting weekly wellness goals to help students build the stamina needed for 30 minutes of movement. Those goals and the progress made along the way are being tracked so students can see how they are growing stronger in preparation for the event. Wellness Wednesday activities are also playing an important role by helping students prepare in fun, age-appropriate ways.
The kickoff also included support from OHS Aultman Ambassador students, who joined OES students for Minute to Win It games and walked with them on their first lap of training. Their involvement helped create a fun and encouraging start to the program.
What makes the Fit and Fun(d) Run especially meaningful is that it goes beyond a single day on the track. The initiative is centered on helping students build healthy habits, understand the importance of wellness, and take part in activities that support both physical and emotional well-being. Through Wellness Wednesdays, grade-level teams are helping bring that vision to life with student-centered experiences focused on movement, mindfulness, healthy habits, kindness, and overall wellness.
Families are encouraged to come cheer on their students and may also sponsor them through an online account, with funds supporting student incentives, experiences, and field trips. Community support is also helping make the day even more special. Barbara Lorson is helping provide bananas for students after the race, Prairie Farms is donating recovery chocolate milk, and Second Sole of Wooster is sponsoring prizes. Awards will be given to the top three boys and top three girls in each grade for the most laps completed, and all students will be entered into a raffle for additional prizes from Second Sole.
Orrville Elementary is grateful for the support of families, staff, and community partners who are helping bring this event to life. Special thanks go to Barbara Lorson and Elle Shumney for organizing the Fit and Fun(d) Run and helping create an experience that promotes wellness, school spirit, and student success.
Orrville Elementary looks forward to seeing students continue to grow stronger and more confident in the weeks ahead. As race day approaches, the school community will be cheering them on every step of the way.