Grade 12s, kindergartners, and students from all grades in between gathered at Westview Secondary Thursday afternoon for a common goal: to raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation.

Money raised from the Terry Fox Run involving host Westview and neighbouring Glenwood and Laity View elementary schools will go to cancer research, through the foundation.

Westview teachers Josh Carriss and Lesley Liversidge helped organized their school's part of the run.

Carriss and Liversidge applauded the efforts of the secondary school's students, who they say worked tirelessly to take care of many of the little details.

"Putting the [elementary] schools together wasn't hard, just inviting them and they were in," Carriss said. "All the little things took a lot of time."

Numbers continue to be tabulated, but Carriss estimated that the Westview school population raised more than $2,000.

On her own, Westview Grade 12 student Ryley Hatchard fundraised over 20 days to collect an estimated $2,500, likely more, for the foundation. A fair portion of those funds came from a bottle drive held last weekend. Profiled in the Sept. 18 TIMES [Sad stories motivate pupil to battle cancer], Hatchard had a goal of raising $10,000.

She set up a sponsorship page (http: //my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=159587 3#.UEl3tX0g7_N.facebook) on the Terry Fox Foundation website.

"While we won't have the exact amount until early next week, once we have cashed in all of the empties, I am confident that we will have raised at least $2,500," Hatchard wrote in an email to the TIMES last week.

"I really wanted to give myself a large goal as if I aimed high I would achieve more."

Hatchard was happy with all of the contributions and the support people have shown during her fundraising drive.

"Our school fundraiser today was awesome," she said, following the event. "The biggest year yet. Two of the elementary schools joining our walk for Terry Fox has made this the most involved year since I have been at Westview."

Hatchard saw a real sense of community and school spirit during the Terry Fox Run.

"I was proud to be a part of such an engaged group," she said.

To those who contributed to her cause, Hatchard said, "Thank you so much for all of the support."

To others, she reminded, "Remember, it is still not too late to donate."

Prior to the run and walk, Tawnie Hayne from Total Body Training led a vigorous warm-up on Westview's athletic field.

After that students, staff, and members of the public had five-kilometre or 1.5-kilometre routes to choose from in the streets surrounding Westview.

Five RCMP cruisers were stationed at busy traffic spots along the route to keep participants safe.

Some of the kindergarteners from Glenwood Secondary simply walked back to their school from Westview. "That was far enough for them, to walk back," Liversidge said.

A few of the older students tackled the five-kilometre route.

Liversidge said the excitement leading up to the run was noticeable.

"The kids have been jazzed about it," she said.

"It's been very exciting in the school," added Carriss, midway through the fundraiser. "Everyone's pumped for today and we had a good turnout."

Following the run/walk, a tug-of-war, dunk tank, hotdog eating contest, and barbecue were held at Westview, with the goal of raising additional funds for the foundation.

tlandreville@mrtimes.com