By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The Hays community will see more than 400 kids running a makeshift track all day Friday outside Holy Family Elementary, 1800 Milner.

The Holy Family students are running to raise money for the school’s 11th annual Race for Education fundraiser.

Co-Chair Marcia Dinkel said the race will be begin with sixth graders at 8:45 a.m. and end with kindergarten and preschool classes starting at around 1:30 p.m.

The students have spent months gaining sponsors to pledge money for the race and have already raised $46,000 — more than a $4,000 increase over last year’s fundraiser.

“It’s amazing how much money we have raised and we hope for more,” Dinkel said. “Just like so many schools in the community, we are in need (of funds) … all the money goes right into the general fund to buy things from textbook to chairs, to whatever is needed.”

Dinkel encouraged the community to support the kids, adding the 1/8-mile track is set up by the playground in sight of Vine. In years past, she said cars have driven by and honked to show their support.

“I just want to thank all those who contribute, we could not do this without the community and family support,” she said.

For the first time, Holy Family parishioner Tina Herrman said she is helping coordinate the event — hard work, but worth it.

“(The committee) works very hard … but it takes everyone to pull it off,”  she said.

Dinkel said the community is welcome to stop by and support the students Friday.

For more information or to donate to the Race for Education, contact Holy Family Elementary at (785) 625-3131.

The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Hays High School, Gym B.

Walk-ins are welcome, and donations also are accepted at the Hays Blood Donation center, 208 E. Eighth, through April for the blood drive.

If goals are reached, Hays High will earn a scholarship from the American Red Cross.

HaysMed High Plains Sports Medicine is hosting its 14th annual Athletic Testing Combine on Saturday, April 25, from 9 to 11 a.m. at The Center for Health Improvement. The registration fee is $15 per person.

The testing is for male or female, grades 6 through 12. A makeup combine will be held May 2 at 3 p.m.

Every athlete strives to do his or her best in whatever sport they participate in. In order to achieve that goal, it is important to know at what level you are performing and how that performance can be improved. The Athletic Testing Combine is designed to assess athlete’s individual strengths and weaknesses in order to help them reach their highest athletic potential.

Tests performed during this event include height, weight, seated shot put, pro agility, vertical jump, standing long jump, bench press and 10-yard and 40-yard dashes, which are electronically timed. High Plains Sports Medicine provides highly qualified staff and professional testing equipment including the use of electronic timing equipment accurate to the 1/100th of a second. This ensures accurate and reliable results.

Each athlete in attendance will receive an individual athletic profile. This includes test results, percentile rankings, and an overall athletic rating allowing athletes to identify specific strengths and weaknesses. In addition, athletic directors and coaches from each school will be provided similar reports.

Registration is due April 17. For more information contact Shawn Landers at (785) 623.6369 or [email protected] or visit www.haysmed.com/combine.

Today A chance of drizzle between 2pm and 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight Scattered thunderstorms before 7pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind 12 to 17 mph becoming northeast 6 to 11 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind around 9 mph.

Friday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 11 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.

Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.