CHIMACUM — Students at Chimacum High School ran a few laps around the track last week in honor of those who were killed and injured in explosions at the Boston Marathon on April 15.
Adding the personal touch was Principal Whitney Meissner, who pledged to contribute $1 of her own money for each mile the students ran Friday.
She plans to contribute it to agencies supporting the victims of the two explosions, which killed three and injured more than 260.
“The idea was to take a tragedy and turn it into a good thing,” Meissner said. “People always wonder what they can do in the face of a tragedy. I wanted to show there is always something you can do.”
Meissner was inspired by her friend Faye Britt, an assistant principal in the Arlington School System, who ran the Boston Marathon even though she has multiple sclerosis.
Britt, who has run 49 marathons, crossed the finish line a half-hour before the explosions.
Britt held an event at her school last Monday, April 22, paying $1 per mile of her own money and raising $535.
Meissner will contribute more than $600, tallied from the 388 participants. During the event Friday afternoon, Meissner was carrying around six dollar bills that students had handed to her.
Meissner said she hadn’t decided where to send the funds. She will ask Britt for advice as to which agency could benefit the most.
Meissner will announce the final total today and reminded students to bring any dollars they want to contribute at that time.
“We announced on Monday this was coming, and it gave the kids something to look forward to,” Meissner said.
“For me, it’s always about how you turn things around to get something good out of something bad and to give kids a sense of hope.”
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
