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Piedmont School students and staff will walk for health -- and funds -- Oct. 17.

Director Dorie Sturgill explained that the 30-minute Jog-A-Thon, set for 9:15 a.m., has a twofold purpose: to reinforce lessons learned in physical education and science classes about the importance of health and to raise funds for a trip to Space Camp in Hunstville, Ala., next spring. Any additional money will be set aside in the school's field trip fund to pay for other field trips during the school year.

"We're looking at $10,000 for two buses to get us to Alabama," Sturgill said. One anonymous donor has given enough money to provide one bus for the trip, but money is still needed for the second bus and travel expenses for 45 third- through eighth-grade students plus chaperones.

And if gas prices increase, the cost may increase, too.

"We're at a disadvantage of being a small, private school because we don't have a bus," the director said.

Even to make a short trip to downtown High Point, the school has to rent a bus. "That's what makes the cost so expensive for doing field trips."

The school doesn't normally hold fundraisers outside of student council activities, such as kids buying bracelets or other items during spirit week, and the nonprofit's annual fund drive.

"My dad worked for NASA, and I always wanted to go to Space Camp," the director said. When talking to parents about the trip, Sturgill said parents' eyes lit up.

"I think the parents are more excited than the kids," she said.

The staff plans to keep students motivated and excited about the walk. "We plan to get some pedometers so we can figure out the miles we walked," Sturgill said. "Sort of a challenge to the students."

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com