EDISON PARK — The wintry weather forecast for Halloween claimed its first victim Thursday as Edison Park Elementary School Principal Peter Zimmerman moved the school's annual walkathon indoors.
Online pledges for the walkathon have already raised $8,000 for physical education, wellness and athletics programs at the school, 6220 N. Olcott Ave, Local School Council member Ginnie Flynn said.
The annual event is one of the school's largest fundraisers, and it's expected to allow the school to buy water fountains designed for refilling water bottles.
Students had planned to walk the track at Resurrection College Prep High School for 1½ hours starting at 1 p.m. Instead, the students will walk the hallways of the Edison Park school, which expanded to include an annex nearly a year ago.
Students in fifth grade and younger can wear costumes, while older students can wear Halloween spirit wear, crazy hair or crazy socks.
“Kids will be out trick-or-treating and collecting as much candy as they can carry on Friday night,” said Flynn, a member of the school's wellness committee. “We’re saying, ‘walk first, candy later,’ which is a philosophy to keep in mind throughout the holiday season.”
A rainstorm Friday is expected include wind gusts up to 40 mph, forcing temperatures down into the upper 30s or low 40s. In addition, the wind chill could fall into the 20s, changing the rain to snow, according to the National Weather Service.
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