Pothier Named Charitable Recipient of Greenway Challenge

The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge has named the in Woonsocket, RI, as the charitable recipient of its annual adventure race.

The selection means that the Pothier School will receive a $2,500 donation from the proceeds of the annual race.

To be selected, the charitable recipient must have a mission that complements the goals of the Greenway Challenge — a race in which participants run, paddle, and bike through a course to raise the awareness of the history, natural beauty, and environmental significance of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

Pothier Principal Donna M. Coderre noted the school stresses the importance of environmental awareness and education. “Through our science curriculum, we teach the children about protecting the environment, the local wildlife, and the value our environment plays in our everyday lives,” she said. “Our health education and physical fitness programs teach the children about the health benefits of physical fitness and recreational opportunities in the community and Blackstone Valley.

 “School-wide initiatives such as recycling, family health fairs, and walk to school days, reinforce all these lessons,” she said.

Coderre said the money would be used for in-house field trips, where the children could learn about the local ecosystem; software to enhance the students’ hand-on independent learning the environment; or taking more children on field trips to the Blackstone River Valley.

Ths year the event, which is sponsored by the . will be held Sept. 29. Each year, athletes run (about 5 miles), paddle and bike (15-20 miles) on a new course, through the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. The trek is considered New England's premier adventure race.