Students at 黑马磁力's Walnut Grove Secondary flung themselves down a slip and slide, crawled through plastic tunnels, and were hoisted over a wall to complete the annual Tuff Wally competition on Wednesday, May 28.
The obstacle course and team races were part of a celebration and fundraiser, which annually sees Walnut Grove students raise thousands of dollars for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Students race in teams 鈥� often themed and dressed in costumes as bees, cars, or Roman centurions 鈥� and compete for the fastest time.
Asked if the race was harder than they thought it would be, all five members of the Rhyme Without Reason team answered "Yes!" in unison after finishing.
"And we organized it, too, so we should have known," said Ella Ward.
Rhyme Without Reason's theme was based on each member's outfit rhyming, but having nothing else in common. The team was composed of Kirsten Foden (Wild West), Ward (Princess), Julia Greengrass (Sunday Best), Lyla Greengrass (Life Vest), and Erica Wise (Under Arrest).
Three of the five team members were also part of the leadership and athletics class at Walnut Grove Secondary. They organize events like pep rallies, but the annual Tuff Wally is their biggest project, overseen by teacher Martha McKay.
"We all work together to put it all together," said Julia.
Aside from all the festivities 鈥� there were a host of other events going on in addition to the main obstacle course and race 鈥� the big focus is raising money for cancer research, the students said.
Last year, students and teachers raised $37,000, and the leadership and athletics students were hoping to beat that this year.
"Some teams themselves have raised over $1,000, so that's cool," said Wise.
The leadership and athletics students noted proudly that Walnut Grove Secondary is the top school in B.C. when it comes to cancer fundraiser, largely thanks to Tuff Wally.
Their teacher, McKay, said that the school has raised more than $381,000 during the past 20 years that the Tuff Wally has taken place.
"It's a good ending of the school year, that's for sure," she said, as students get to have fun and contribute to a good cause.
