Earlier in March, students at William Halley Elementary School in Lorton and Newington Forest Elementary School in Springfield participated in the nationwide fundraising program Boosterthon Fun Run by raising money and learning life skills through physical activity.

Boosterthon is an alternative fundraising framework from students going door-to-door and selling goods. Each year around 1,600 schools around the country host their own program.

During the nine-day fundraiser, students at each school also watched videos about young athletes from six different countries around the world that were meant to teach confidence, curiosity, endurance, humility and practice.

The program culminated with a mass run where students turned in 30 to 35 laps around their respective school.

Newington Forest’s run included 590 students and took place on March 10. They raised more than $16,000, which will go towards improving technology in the school.

At Halley, more than 700 students participated in the run on March 18 and raised $22,000. That money will be used for enhancing both technology and the playground.