MEXICO — Over the weekend, a group of Mountain Valley Middle School students took on the huge challenge of participating in a 5-kilometer race.

The race was in Freeport on Sunday, Dec. 4 with excellent weather and 20 ambitious students. The event raised money for The Arthritis Foundation, and the Mountain Valley Middle School team was ranked second place for total fundraising teams, raising a total of $1,156 in general donations.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis has been a December tradition in Freeport since 2000 and is a celebration of the holiday season while raising awareness for arthritis. The participants wear jingle bells and holiday décor as they run to holiday tunes.

All of the students finished, with the following times in no particular order: Sydney Petrie (40:25); Lynda Theriault (48:32); Karissa Bickford (37:05); Victoria Meader (40:20); Josh Maillet (39:47); Tessa Pingree (36:24); Joey Buccina (48:30); MacKenzie Jones (40:21); Alicia White (48:35); Zachary Penley (45:48); Stacey Roberts (42:25); Kristen Henry (42:20); Alexis Theriault (37:00); Kelsey Theriault (40:19); Hannah Pierce (40:22); Abigail Blauvelt (28:08 – fifth place in female 10-14); Holden Blauvelt (34:52); Lauren Sterling (37:06); Maddie Kaubrys (36:25); and Riley Flynn (40:21).

Also participating were staff members and some of their family including: Lindsay MacMillan (and her son Duncan) (34:10); Lisa Drapeau (31:44); Erica Grimaldi (34:47); Brenda Cayer (48:31); Paula Mills (49:19), Philip Mills (28:45) and Phil Mills (28:19); Amy Ryder (39:59) and Dan Ryder (23:54); Ryanne Brown (23:42 – finishing 3rd in Women’s 20-29); and Jeanne (42:24) and Steve LaPointe (24:18 – 7th place in age division and a personal best).

A huge congratulations to all of the participants and a big thank you to the RSU 10 family members who helped the cause.