A crisp, sunny day was the perfect setting for a run in the park - in particular a Fun Run.

Students from S.S. Palmer Elementary School and Parkside Education Center in Palmerton climbed through an inflatable bouncy obstacle course, ran a lap, jumped through holes on the agility ladder, and did sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks or hopped on one foot. Phew! Might sound like boot camp, but boot camp doesn't have a primary-colored, bouncy course.Event organizer Larissa Kimmel, the vice president of the S.S. Palmer Parent Teacher Organization, said the Second Annual Fun Run on Thursday at the borough park was actually a fundraiser, but one the children really look forward to doing.As popular music played over a speaker, children giggled and one kindergarten student announced, "That is my favorite, favorite song."Her friend said, "I thought you said the other one was?"Event organizer Kimmel said she knew the first Fun Run was a good idea when days later she saw the children redrawing the obstacle course, just so they could do it again."I was really flattered," she said. "That showed me they really enjoyed it."One of Kimmel's parent helpers said she saw firsthand how much fun the children were having at this year's Fun Run."There was one little girl that couldn't stop laughing in the bounce house," Amanda Knappenberger said. The child was laughing so much she couldn't climb the course until she calmed down a little."She was just awesome," Knappenberger said.Kimmel said the children raised $7,000 last year for field trips, school activities and assemblies. Every child gets to participate in the Fun Run whether they were able to raise any money or not.This year, the children have raised about $5,000, but Kimmel and the other parents are not done counting. She hopes it surpasses last year.This year, Kimmel added a competition. The child who gets a donation from the furthest location wins a monthly membership to Dedicated Fitness in Palmerton. The winner hasn't been determined yet, because donations are still coming in. But Kimmel is impressed by the distance of these donations. One child got a donation from Australia, she said. Other donors are from California, Hawaii and Texas, just to name a few."It's really fun to see how the kids are connected across the U.S. and the world," Kimmel said.