Community, parents raise money for new Kirk School track

Excitement was in the air last week at Kirk School in Palatine, as more than 200 people converged on the campus for its annual Walk-and-Wheel-a-Thon.

With a live band, games and prizes, as well as a silent auction and food sales, it had all the earmarks of a fun fair as much as it did a walkathon.

But making the one-mile trek through the surrounding neighborhood was key to the success of the fundraiser.

"It just fits with our emphasis on lifelong fitness," said Kim Dungan, now in her 11th year as Kirk School principal.

Kirk cheerleaders ramped up the excitement at the start of the trek. Judy Hackett, superintendent of the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization, led the procession as it made its way along the route.

Families rallied around the school's initiative to convert two acres on the western edge of the campus into athletic fields. They'll build a limestone track, for Special Olympics practice, gym classes and ultimately to accommodate fitness equipment.

Kirk School serves students from age 3 through 21. Many are on the autism spectrum and most have significant or multiple disabilities.

Ten years ago, the Kirk School parents group successfully fundraised to establish an adaptive playground behind the school, with multisensory components to both stimulate and soothe students.

Increasingly, however, Kirk's population has aged up, with approximately 75 percent of its students in high school and in transition before graduating.

"We have such a wide age range here," says gym teacher Nick Mueller, who helped coordinate the event. "As our students get older, we're promoting more fitness activities."

Luke Cullen, 13, of Lincolnshire, is one of those students who has grown out of the playground equipment, but still needs the benefits of being outdoors. His older brothers participate in everything from football to lacrosse, and Luke wants to get out there too, his parents say.

"Our kids need the same things as other kids have at other schools," his mother, Jamie, says. "They like to be outside, even just to walk or take a break from school."

Sandy Ricketts of Rolling Meadows is president of the parents' organization. She says the new track will also benefit Kirk's Special Olympics team, especially the track and field program, which draws the most participation.

"Our Special Olympics teams have to learn to run in between the lines," Ricketts said. "Even in Special Olympics, if they go outside the lines, they're disqualified. We have nowhere to practice for that."

Organizers bad hoped to net $20,000 from the walkathon, or nearly halfway toward their goal of raising $50,000 for the athletic field upgrades. But the benefits of the afternoon event went beyond its successful fundraising.

"It's the process," Dungan adds. "We've partnered with businesses in the community, as well as parents, alumni and staff. It's really a community event."

To contribute, visit www.gofundme.com/o9pq2g.

"It's just nice for Kirk families to come together," said Jennifer Durkin of Arlington Heights, "to concentrate on their abilities - rather than their disabilities."