Over 250 St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope School students took to the streets recently to raise awareness and money to help the people and refugees of the Balkans. At last count, students raised close to $5,000 during their May 20 walk-a-thon and collected over $3,000 from parishioners during weekend church services.

The money, which will be sent via the American Red Cross, will be used to buy basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, blankets and medicine.

It was the school's seventh graders who brainstormed and came up with the idea of a walk-a-thon to help Kosovo refugees. Students from grades two to eight excitedly participated. Together they made 1,312 laps around the block of their school on Maple Ave. and completed an accumulative 656 miles.

School Principal Paul Clagnaz said they did research before launching the walk-a-thon and chose the American Red Cross because the organization will give 100 percent of the kids' earnings to the relief effort. Director of Financial Development for the Nassau County American Red Cross, J. Bryan Anthony even attended the walk-a-thon and did a few laps with the youngsters.

It was the second time Anthony met with the students. The first time was during an assembly where he gave students background on the Red Cross, its philosophy and where the money would go.