This winter, Granby Elementary School physical education teacher Maggie Keller taught students how to cross-country ski.

On Feb. 26-27, students had a chance to practice the skills they learned as part of a Ski-A-Thon on the high school field next to their new elementary school. The event raises funds for Granby Elementary.

“Our monthlong cross-country skiing unit is truly a reflection of the incredible community we live in,” Keller wrote to Sky-Hi News.

Each lap raises funds

The Granby PTO organized the Ski-A-Thon, led by secretary Jamie Birch and president Kaydee Jensen. Students set a goal for how many laps they could compete, and then solicited donations from family and community members to encourage them to reach their goal.

Jensen wrote that the students completed nearly 2,500 laps around the track, with four laps equaling about 1 mile.

According to Jensen, students have raised a substantial amount of money, with funds still coming in. All donations are due by St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at Give.MyBooster.com/granby-elementary-school. So far, donations have come from 24 states across the country.

“Anyone from anywhere can donate this year because of the new platform,” Jensen wrote. “Businesses can also support the students with donations and will be visible to anyone who is on the site.”

Students with the most laps from each grade level, as well as Keller’s honorable mentions, will get to “slime” her at an assembly on St. Patrick’s Day, Jensen added. The classes with the highest average laps and the highest average dollars raised will get a pizza party.

Community made event possible

The school’s cross-country ski program has improved over the past two years with the help of grants to purchase cross-country boots and skis for all grade levels, Keller said.

“As a result of using real cross-country gear, students’ enjoyment of the sport skyrocketed, and their learning curve increased dramatically,” Keller wrote.

Most recently, the school received a $10,000 Outdoor Equity Grant by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Keller said that managing a high volume of equipment for kids “requires a lot of forethought and organization.”

Just in time for the Ski-A-Thon, about 320 students received dryland and on-snow training from Keller and volunteers.

“None of this could have happened without the incredible support countywide,” Keller stated.

Community members Lauren Swigart, Earl Martin, Joe Leone, Andy Birch and Nathan Thum provided students with a new self-drying boot rack. Alpine Lumber donated all the lumber for the new rack, with Country Ace Hardware providing significantly discounted hardware.

Jeff Paulson and other Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center staff provided new boots and skis, in addition to helping students learn. Keller also thanked Diana Lynn Rau and Charlie Rau for volunteering. Town of Granby employees and Jason Lewis provided daily trail grooming and maintenance.