Minnewashta Teacher Training for Twin Cities Marathon Gets Help from her Kindergartners

What an amazing, but very exhausting week! I was determined to make it a low key week, but that didn't so much work out. I was all over the place and every day when I got home I would lay on the couch and before I knew it I was fast asleep. My students were especially great this week. I feel so blessed to be their teacher...I love them so very much! Not only have my students been filling up my heart this week, but also there has been a huge outpour of support from family and friends. God is so amazing! My class is now famous because not only is the article below posted on the school's website, but also in the Chanhassen Voyager Newspaper (Thurs. Oct2) and the Star Tribune (Wed. Oct8). The students screamed in excitement when they saw their picture in the newspaper. I actually found out about this article on the school website from a parent when I called to thank her for a donation. Since then, the support just came rolling in. A special thanks to the Gammill Family, Keri Freienmuth, The Johnson Family, Ryan Waibel, KC Kolstad and Julia Antonsen. Your support and love means so much. OH MY GOSH!! I just check my dad's account because I want to post what the total amount raised would be after these donations and my mouth dropped when I saw the balance. One generous person donated a total of $300 and the other $100!!! Wow! I'm in shock! I can't tell you how much all of this support lifts my spirits. I'm in tears! From the bottom of my heart....Thank you!!I continue to ask for your prayers. I'm excited to run, but I don't think the reality of it all has hit me yet and it probably won't until Sunday morning. When I do have time to stop and think about it, I do start to get nervous. I pray that God will bless all of those running on Sunday, including myself, with nice weather and motivation to finish the race with a smile.
Much love,
Lacy

Minnewashta Teacher Training for Twin Cities Marathon Gets Help from her Kindergartners
On Oct. 5, Minnewashta Elementary teacher Lacy Hladky will lace up her shoes for the Twin Cities Marathon.

It will be Hladky’s first full 26.2-mile marathon. She is running in memory of her father Larry Hladky who died nearly one year ago.

Hladky is training hard and she’s recruited her Spanish immersion kindergarten class to help! Each day, during math, Hladky’s students get together in teams of four. Each team runs a one-mile relay (one quarter-mile each).

"On the first day of the ‘kid’s marathon’, I explained to my students that we would be running 26 miles for my dad," said Hladky. "I shared my dad’s story with them and then we counted to 26 together. They were so supportive and excited to do this with me."

Hladky’s students will train during math class until they have completed 26 miles.

"It’s a great way to help them learn math," said Hladky. "Each day, we mark off how many miles we’ve run and then count how many we have left. They are also learning about distances and we compare their race times each day, adding and subtracting for longer and shorter times."

Hladky will run her own 26 miles at the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 5. She runs for her father, Larry, who was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare and fatal brain disorder just over one year ago. Very little is known about this disease and it is extremely hard to diagnose, so many cases go unknown. Hladky’s father passed away on Oct. 6, 2007.

Hladky’s kindergarteners are supportive and inspire her each day.

"They are so proud of themselves when they finish one more mile. After each relay, we put our hands together and shout, ‘Corremos por Larry’ (we run for Larry)."


As she trains for the Twin Cities Marathon, Hladky is raising money to help raise awareness of this disease and to help find a cure. The money will go to the CJD Foundation and the CJD Surveillance Center. So far, she has raised nearly $600.

If you are interested in supporting Hladky’s run you can send a donation to:

TCF Bank
Lawrence Hladky CJD Benefit Account #6439197637
7800 Penn Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55431

or:

Lacy Hladky
5148 Lyndale Ave S #2
Minneapolis, MN 55419

Make all checks payable to: Lawrence Hladky CJD Benefit Account.
Please write the account # in the memo section: 6439197637