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We truly appreciate the time taken by the following officials to encourage
the students in the Run/Walk Across America!
U.S. Senator Conrad Burns |
U.S. Senator Max Baucus |
Montana Governor Brian
Schweitzer
Missoula City Mayor John Engen
| Montana
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Linda McCulloch
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee |
Iowa Governor
Thomas Vilsack
.
We received the following letter
from Senator Conrad Burns in Washington, D.C.:
 January
26, 2006
Dear 4th and 5th Graders:
I am very impressed by the challenge you have
undertaken in virtually running across
America. What a great way to stay fit and have
a lot of fun. I visited your website today and
noticed you are approaching Rochester,
Minnesota and are well on your way towards
achieving your goal. I congratulate you!
I
certainly know the importance of staying fit
and am very pleased to see young people like
you taking a unique approach to daily fitness.
Your goal of virtually running across America
is a great example to your peers about staying
fit and exercising regularly. As I am sure you
have learned, the benefits of regular exercise
and staying healthy are numerous. By
developing and exercising healthy habits at
your age, you will lay the foundation for a
lifetime of healthy living. Along with your
virtual run across America, I would encourage
you to encourage others to exercise and stay
active.
 I
will look forward to watching your progress on
your website and wish you all the very best as
you work towards your goal.
Sincerely,
Conrad Burns
United
States Senator
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We received the following
letter from Senator Max Baucus in Washington, D.C.:
January 6, 2006
Dear Kids,
It is my sincere pleasure to congratulate you
as you approach the half-way mark on your
run/walk across America! I understand that a
lot of hard work has gotten you to this point,
and I wish you the best as you keep working
towards your goal.
Running is one of my favorite hobbies and I am
so glad to see young Montanans enjoying it,
too. I visited your website and am amazed at
your progress! Keep up the good work and never
stop having fun as you exercise for good
health.
 Congratulations again!
Sincerely,
Max Baucus
U.S. Senator
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Montana's Governor, Brian
Schweitzer, sent the students the following letter of encouragement:
We received the following letter
from John Engen, Mayor of Missoula, Montana:
 January
19, 2006
Dear 4th and 5th Grader Classes:
Congratulations on meeting the half way mark
on your unique challenge of virtually
running/walking 3200 miles across America. It
is wonderful to see 4th and 5th graders
learning about nutrition and fitness.
I
see from the website that Montana is 11th for
fit kids. I admire your determination to
combine fitness with your goal to run/walk
3200 miles during the school year. Hopefully
this will inspire other students to take the
challenge.
 Keep
up the good work of running/walking across
America.
Sincerely,
John Engen
Mayor
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Mrs. Staso received this letter
from Linda McCulloch, MT State Superintendent of Public Instruction:
 September
14, 2005
Dear Vicki,
I saw the article about the Russell 4th and
5th grade classes embarking on a virtual
run/walk across the continental United States
and want to congratulate you on a wonderful
idea that will benefit your students in
multiple ways. Combining the great physical
exercise with geography, history, language and
science is truly inspired teaching. Please
tell the 4th and 5th graders that I am very
excited for them and I know they will make it
to Delaware next spring. In the meantime, I'll
be checking in to see how far they've gone.
Good luck with this marvelous project, Vicki,
and keep up the good work!
Run, Russell, Run!!
Sincerely,
Linda McCulloch
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction
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We received the
following letter
from the Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee:
 February
14, 2006
Dear
Mrs. Staso and students:
What a wonderful and unique program you are
participating in. Your website is very
informative and interesting. It looks like you
are well on your way to completing the 3,200
mile run. I just want to encourage you to keep
up the good work and when you have completed
this program - keep running or walking!
I
know firsthand the importance of eating
healthy and exercising. I began to eat healthy
and exercise every day and lost over one
hundred pounds. My goal was not just to lose
weight, but to get healthy. I feel much better
and I am much healthier - is is a "lifestyle
change" for me and hopefully this run will be
for each of you too.
 You
are learning so much through this program;
such as, how to work as a team, the benefits
of exercise and some interesting things about
each state you pass through. You will all be
winners at the end of this run! God bless you
and keep running and walking.
Sincerely
yours,
Mike Huckabee
Governor of Arkansas |
Iowa's Governor,
Thomas Vilsack, sent the students the following letter of encouragement:
 March 2, 2006
Dear Kids,
I want to take this opportunity to
congratulate you for undertaking such an
ambitious project. Your virtual Run/Walk
Across America challenge can serve as an
impressive starting point to a life long
commitment to healthy choices and physical
activity.
I
personally challenge myself to stay physically
active and last year ran five marathons. It
wasn't easy but I have come to realize the
importance of eating right and exercising on a
daily basis.
 We
encourage you to stay involved and participate
in activities to promote good healthy choices.
Now is the time to learn as much as you can
and work hard to make our world a better place
to live.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
of Iowa |
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December 9, 2005
Good job and good luck!