Milton Foundation for Education plans Oct. 28 'Monster Dash'

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

The Milton Foundation for Education will hold its 14th annual 5K “Monster Dash” Oct. 28 at Cunningham Park, and this year organizers hope the event will prove the best one yet.

The Milton Foundation for Education is a nonprofit of parents and residents who raise money that will fund programs beyond the reach of the school district’s budget. The Monster Dash is one of the organization’s major fund-raisers.

Hands-on art and science projects will be run by The Toy Box of Hanover, and rocket balloons will be launched throughout the park, a memo about the event said. A disk jockey will play music, games, and give away prizes as well.

The Monster Dash began years ago to benefit the Sam Cichello Memorial Fund, created in 1999 in memory of the Tucker Elementary School student who loved science. Since its inception, the Monster Dash has raised close to $130,000 to support science enrichment in Milton public schools.

Money has gone toward such things as bringing naturalists to classrooms to teach about the Blue Hills Reservation, sending students to the Junior Naturalist Program at the Trailside Museum, purchasing science kits, and partnering with the Museum of Science to teach simple engineering.

This year's race will include trophies and other prizes for the top race finishers in each age group, as well as awards for runners who wear the best costumes.

Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and the 5K begins at 11 a.m. To pre-register visit www.active.com and to learn more about the foundation visit www.miltonfoundationforeducation.org or email denisequeally@comcast.net.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.