A Jog-a-Thon is a lap-based Fun Run where students earn donations for each lap they jog within a set time. It's one of the original Fun Run formats — simple, inclusive, and very profitable when donations are collected online.
How it worksJog-a-Thon basics
- Students collect per-lap or flat donations beforehand.
- On event day, they jog as many laps as they can in a set window (e.g., 30 minutes).
- Volunteers count laps; totals and prizes are tallied — instantly if online.
Real result
"After years of chairing our jog-a-thon and manually doing everything, having the online part simply took the load off… we netted $16,500 more than last year." — Get Movin' school
Counting lapsKeep it simple
- Use wristband punches, stickers or tally cards per student.
- Assign lap counters per group; stagger grades into waves.
- Online platforms convert laps to dollars automatically for per-lap donations.
Compare with Color Runs and Walk-a-Thons, or see the Fun Run fundraising hub.