The Wait is Almost Over!

Dear MRCS Families,

The wait is almost over! This Friday, May 29th, our students will take to the streets for the 2026 MRCS Walkathon.

Fundraising Update

First, a moment of celebration: Together, we have so far raised $40,150 for our school and community! Seeing our students’ hard work—from lemonade stands to babysitting—translate into a legacy for our school and a gift for the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation is a true blessing.

To try to reach our ambitious $65,000 fundraising goal, we are extending our online fundraising for another week. Final tallies and milestones will be announced at our Walkathon Assembly on June 9th, 2026. 

Here are the Milestones we’ve reached so far:

$10,000 – Mr Yuen Dyed his hair Red

$20,000 – Grade 2&3 Teachers will be Silly Stringed by the top 5 fundraisers at a later date (TBD)

$30,000 – Ms Spyksma will be doing a cold plunge at the Walkathon Assembly on June 9th

$40,000 – Ms Fouad and Ms Callaghan will be learning a Tik Tok Challenge to perform at a date TBD. Student Participation in teaching them is encouraged! 

Upcoming Milestones: The fundraising deadline has been extended a week!

$5,500 ** The High School Students are only $120 away from getting a Sundae Bar!** Please encourage your HS Students to keep going. 

$50,000 – Mrs Hanes & Ms Sheridan do full-on Lip Sync Battle at the Walkathon assembly on June 9th. 

$60,000 – Ms Lius & Mr Ketchum do a Hot Ones Challenge at the Walkathon Assembly on June 9th. Trivia Questions will be written by the students! 

$65,000 – Leadership Will be Pied in the Face.

Now, let’s get ready for the finish line. Here is your essential guide for Friday’s event:

Volunteers Still Needed

We are still in need of volunteers to come support our community. If you would like to volunteer to walk with the students or guide them around our route, please email Emily Crase at as soon as possible. We would be thrilled to have parents, grandparents, or friends come support our students!

Can’t join us for the whole day? There are still ways to help:

• Early Morning: Snack preparation at the school.
• Partial Shift: Volunteer as a route guide for an earlier station so you can depart once the classes finish walking past.
• Note for all scheduled volunteers: Please meet in the Middle School Gym at 9:30 AM sharp for our briefing.

The “Day-Of” Checklist

To ensure your child has the best experience, please send them to school with:

• The Outfit: MRCS Merch or school colors (Blue, Black, and White).
• The “Surprise” Kit: A towel and a full change of clothes (including dry socks and shoes). Trust us—they’ll need it for our secret surprise finish!
• Weather Protection: Please check the forecast and dress accordingly. Pack sunscreen and a hat for heat, or a raincoat if showers are expected.

⏰ Event Schedule

• 8:25-10:00 AM: Standard classroom time.
• 8:25-9:30 AM: Boundary Park Snack Preparation (in the Kitchen).
• 8:25 AM: Boundary Park Volunteer Setup (after Drop Off and before Volunteer Meeting)
• 9:15 AM: Volunteer Station Leader meeting with Emily in the MS Gym.
• 9:30 AM: Volunteer Meeting (Middle School Gym).
• 10:00 AM: Pre-Walkathon Pep Rally (Let’s bring the energy!).
• 10:15 AM: The Walkathon begins! Classrooms will leave in buddy groups.
• 12:00-1:30 PM: Students return to classrooms.
• 1:30 PM: Closing Assembly.
• 2:00 PM: Students back in classrooms until standard dismissal.
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Important Logistics & Safety

• Supervision: We will have walking volunteers, traffic control, and a “pick-up” vehicle for students who can’t finish. Each station is also equipped with a first aid kit.
• Safety First: We have traffic control, walking volunteers, a dedicated “pick-up” vehicle for tired legs, and a certified First Aid attendant patrolling the route.
• Attendance Policy: All students at school on Friday are expected to participate in the walk. Because we will not have on-site supervision for non-participating students, please keep your child home and report the absence to the office if you prefer they do not walk.
• Accommodations: If you have a student who needs specific accommodations we haven’t discussed yet, please let the team know ASAP.
• Volunteer Briefing: All parent volunteers are meeting in the MS Gym at 9:30 AM. 
• Volunteer WhatsApp Group: There will be a WhatsApp group for all of the volunteers to communicate throughout the day. This will be set up on Wednesday May 27, so please check your WhatsApp messages for a group invitation from Emily Crase. This will be how we communicate with each other for First Aid or any updates needed. 

Station Layout & Washrooms

There are 5 total stations along the route. While affiliated churches are running most stations, an MRCS-assigned person will be present at each. Every station is equipped with a first aid kit and washroom access:

1. Maple Ridge Alliance: Washroom & Snacks
2. CRC: Washroom & Snacks
3. Boundary Park: Washroom & Snacks
4. Tri City Church (Powell Ave): EMERGENCY ONLY washroom (Cooper House)
5. Burnette: Washroom & Snacks

Photos & Slideshow

We want to showcase the day during our 1:30 PM wrap-up assembly!

• A QR code will be shared with teachers, volunteers, and posted along the route.
• Use this QR code to instantly upload photos taken during the walk.
• All images will be actively reviewed and compiled into a slideshow by our Marketing Coordinator, Ainah. Parents will be notified of this photo collection in next week’s newsletter.

If you have any last-minute questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or email Emily at .

We can’t wait to see our blue, black, and white colors filling the neighborhood this Friday. Let’s walk with joy!

Blessings,

The MRCS Walkathon Team

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering that Jesus said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35