ADAMS TWP — A new and healthy event raised $37,000 for the Mars Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization.

Susan Cable, president of the PTO that covers the primary center, elementary school and Centennial School, said the March for Mars was held at various times from Sept. 1 to Oct. 2 at the three schools. It was coordinated by Susan Tirch and Cable.

Cable said students in kindergarten through sixth grade collected donations, and then walked on their school’s campus on a designated day. Students who raised at least $40 received a March for Mars T-shirt. Various levels of pledges offered prizes, and students who collected $300 in pledges received a March for Mars hoodie.

“Eight kids got the hoodie, and there were a total of 970 prizes given out,” Cable said. “The most collected was $450.”

That amount was raised by first-grader Isabella Pro. Her mother, Jennifer Pro, is an exercise physiologist.

When the elder Pro heard about the walkathon, she was thrilled that students would be getting outside and exercising.

“It was something that was close to my heart,” Pro said. “Exercise has been a really big part of our lives.”

She said Isabella asked family and friends to donate, including her grandparents in the South.

“The farthest check was from Mimi and Poppy in Snow Hill, North Carolina,” Pro said.

Isabella said her favorite part of March for Mars was running around outside with her friends.

“You can stay healthy,” Isabella said. “And I liked the Popsicles at the end, too.”

Cable explained that the PTO board set a goal of $22,500 for the event because that was the budget shortfall the group was facing.

“It was incredible how many people stepped up,” Cable said.

She said parent feedback regarding the first-time fundraiser was positive.

“They were so excited that we’re not just selling candy or wrapping paper,” Cable said. “We had so many parents and teachers who said, ‘Can we do that in the spring?’”

She said the PTO even dreamed up a mascot for the walk. “Froggy,” whose motto is “Hopping Into Health,” could be seen at each school’s walkathon. He also visited the schools to get students hopped up about the event.

Froggy, who some say was various PTO members in a frog costume, encouraged students to do their best as they walked their respective courses.

“The kids really liked Froggy,” Cable said. “They were walking hand-in-hand with him.”

The funds will help support PTO-sponsored events like field trips, the book fair, holiday shop, teacher appreciation luncheons, Author Days at the elementary building, and the custodian bonus at the end of each year,