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Every year, the Greenfield Elementary SCA raises funds to support a local charity. This year the SCA sponsored the Virginia Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Principal Beth Umbarger decided to make a commitment to support the cause as well.  She made the promise that if at least 100 students signed up for the Fincastle 5K race, she too would complete the run.  To provide support for both causes,  Umbarger decided to join the Leukemia Society's Team in Training and compete in the Nike and Leukemia Society's Women's Classic Half Marathon on October 19, 2008.  Greenfield Elementary and Ms. Umbarger raised a combined total of $4,200.00 with all proceeds going directly to lifesaving cancer research and services to help blood-borne cancer patients.

On Saturday October 18, 2008, 115 Greenfield Elementary students completed the Fincastle Run, including Umbarger's daughter Daylie who is in Kindergarten at Greenfield.  The school won the award for the school having the highest number of students to ever participate in the run.  Just as she promised, on October 19, 2008, Umbarger completed the half marathon in San Francisco in 3 hour and 35 minutes.  She said, "The half marathon was a test of my will. I had neck surgery four weeks to the day prior to the race and my inability to train, along with the vision of San Francisco's steep hills, made me nervous.  Thinking about the support of our Greenfield students during the race, gave me the strength to persevere."

Submitted by: Barb Hunt