DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac students will soon be walking for a cause.

A Parent Teacher Organization for Dowagiac elementary schools will be hosting an inaugural Chieftain Spirit Walk on from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 19 at the Dowagiac Middle School track. Students at Dowagiac’s elementary schools will be collecting pledges to walk on the May 19 to benefit Dowagiac schools. The deadline for registration is Friday. There is a $10 registration fee. The $10 fee will cover the cost of a meal and T-shirt.

Samantha Ausra and Shelly Myers-Henry, two of the organizers on the Chieftain Spirit Walk Board, said that the idea to host the spirit walk came out of wanting to host a fundraiser that was different than the traditional selling of cookies or candy bars.

“We thought this would be a wonderful way to get all the elementary schools together, get all the kids involved and outside, do something fun and fundraise at the same time,” Myers-Henry said.

Ausra added that she had seen walk-a-thons done at other schools and thought it was a great idea.

“This is a small town, so you see a lot of the same in terms of fundraising,” she said. “This is different and will get kids outside and active.”

Ausra said that the day will be fun for children as there will be a bounce house at the event and other attractions and competitions.

Money raised from the walk-a-thon will go toward elementary school field trips, assemblies and special projects, such as teacher appreciation meals and movie nights.

“We are all about the kids,” Ausra said. “We are all about raising money for the youth in this town.”

Though the pair said they are unsure how much money they will make for the event’s inaugural year, they are currently taking sponsorship from local businesses. Sponsors will have their names printed on the back of the Chieftain Spirit Walk shirts.

“Without the support of sponsors or of the parents, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this,” Ausra said. “We are very appreciative.”

Both Ausra and Myers-Henry said they hope the walk-a-thon is a success and that it will turn into a tradition for elementary students in Dowagiac.

“We are hoping we can do this annually,” Myers-Henry said. “We are hoping this is successful.”

The pair said that they are proud of the community in which they live, because it has always supported the schools.

“It’s great to see the community come together, so we can provide something for our kids and fulfill the needs of the schools,” Ausra said.

To register or become a sponsor of the Chieftain Spirit Walk, contact Myers-Henry at (269) 876-7358.