Cheers went up this year when the school’s cross country team captured the CCS championship, and again when the girls soccer team recently ended its season with another CCS title for the school. Yet although the school’s sports program does not lack successes, it is facing monetary troubles. Budget restraints have become a threat over the past few years, but students and administration have spearheaded a solution called Sprint for Sports. The second of these events is scheduled for Thursday, March 28.

This fundraiser-oriented project is being led by the Associated Student Body [ASB] in conjunction with the Los Altos Athletic League [LAAL]. The basic idea is similar to an elementary school walkathon, for which student-athletes will gather flat donations or pledges per lap. In the latter case, students will be able to raise a specified amount of money for each lap they run around the school track on the day of the event.

The goal between LAAL and ASB is to have two Sprint for Sports fundraisers during the year. The first occurred on November 17, raising $7,600 over the course of two hours. The second event is approaching quickly and athletes are already trying to raise donations.

“We gave out prizes to kids who were participating [and] we threw water balloons at the coaches,” Assistant Principal Cristy Dawson said. “It was really pretty fun, and it was the first time ever, so this time I’m hoping we’ll have a really good turnout.”

Along with having more participation on the day of the event, LAAL and ASB hope to raise more money for the sports program the second time around. Both groups also hope that the second Sprint for Sports event will bring in more participants, especially because it rained for the majority of the event last time.

“I think it will be more fun this semester because the weather will be better and hopefully people get more enthusiastic about it,” senior Sarah Wobber said.

Regardless of the weather, LAAL and ASB hope to continue Sprint for Sports in the following years. One of the main attractions for Sprint for Sports is that every penny raised goes to the sports program.

“Specifically for track, it will allow us to go to more tack meets because we will have more money to pay for entry fees,” Sarah said.

The fundraiser also does not require enormous effort from students, despite its great potential to raise money for the sports program.

“Years ago they had a sports night with tons of food … raffles, all that kind of stuff,” Dawson said.  “They would make good money, around eight to ten grand a night, but it was so much work.”

Having LAAL and ASB work together with the athletes also relieves the burden on coaches.

“[The coaches’] hearts are in their sport, and if they can spend time working on that and not focusing on car washes and selling boxes of candy, it’s a real win-win,” Dawson said.