The word “plogging” comes from the Swedish “plokka upp” (pick up) plus “jogging.” Thanks to the Lincoln Area Community Fundraising Organization at Lincoln Academy, the first plogging event in Lincoln County will take place on Saturday, April 27 in conjunction with the Elmer Tarr Bristol Roadside Cleanup.
One can credit the Swedes for coming up with a new way to both exercise and clean up litter alongside roads and trails. The plogging craze is sweeping through northern Europe and is now gaining traction in the United States.
Participants in the plogging race will run, jog, or walk while carrying a trash bag and picking up litter on a 5K route in Bristol. One will be getting exercise on a nice spring day, burning more calories than by simply jogging or walking, cleaning up this part of the planet, and raising funds for four laudable local charities.
One can register for the plog from 9:30-9:50 a.m. at Bristol Consolidated School, 2153 Bristol Road (Route 130), Bristol. The race starts at 10 a.m.
Student organizers will provide one with a trash bag, track one’s time on the course, and weigh the trash collected. Every ounce gathered takes 4 seconds off one’s time. There will be prizes for top finishers.
All funds raised will be donated by the Lincoln Area Community Fundraising Organization to the Eldercare Network of Lincoln County, CHIP Inc., Caring for Kids, and The Carpenter’s Boat Shop.
For the fundraising part of this event, students will accept a $5 minimum donation to register as a participant.
Runners and walkers are encouraged to seek sponsors to add to their donation. If one cannot make it to the event and wishes to sponsor a plogger or support local charities, contact Jonah at daiutejr@lincolnacademy.org.
The Lincoln Area Community Fundraising Organization is a student club at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle that raises funds throughout the school year for donation to local nonprofit organizations.
