BOUNTIFUL -- If parents of students at Meadowbrook Elementary find their children are having a little trouble with their equilibrium, they don't need to look much further than the school's playground for answers. As part of a new program instituted by school principal Sharla Fillmore, students are walking around and around and around a 1/4-mile dirt track at the school in an effort to increase health among the kids and raise money for a new walking/running track at the school. The 100-Mile Club, as the program is called, began last week. Parents and others have pledged anywhere from five cents to $1 per each mile a student runs or walks.

In order to keep students interested in walking and running, each student was given a bracelet on which they can put charms for every milestone they hit.

After students walk five miles, 10 miles, 15 miles, 20 miles and every 10 miles until 100, they receive another charm for their bracelets.

Fillmore said she is happy with the participation in the voluntary program.

"Last week I would say that 80-90 percent of the kids participated."

While Fillmore thinks there probably will not be the same amount of participation for the whole year, she said there will likely be several children who will walk the whole 100 miles, although it may take the entire school year.

Fillmore said the school may collect pledges 3-4 times during the school year, rather than overwhelm a parent with a huge donation at the end of the year.

cphares@davisclipper.com