Spence Elementary students raise so much money for school projects, Principal Eide had to wear a inflatable costume

A unique getup for the Spence Elementary principal Thursday, talking to her La Crosse students on Halloween.

Principal Dan Eide made a bet with her students on a fundraiser.

If the students could raise at least $4,000, Mrs. Eide promised to wear an inflatable costume.

All those kids did was raise over three times that amount, coming through with $13,000 in fundraising for school projects.

And there Mrs. Eide was, Thursday, on Halloween, sporting what must be a Pokemon costume during the school’s “Under the Sea” event, which was considered the official conclusion of this year’s fund drive.

Schools around the area had parties for Halloween but Spence always has a Fun Run, where students run around the playground, many in costume, to mark the completion of their fundraising feat.

Eide says the school has been doing it for many years.

“The students have known about this Fun Run, is going to be the culmination of all of the fund-raising that they’ve been doing,” she said.

For the second consecutive year, the Fun Run was held on or around Halloween. Last year, there was snow on the holiday to give the event a wintry feel. Thursday, the weather was much milder.