FAIRMONT– Fairmont High School’s Unified Cardinals club is planning a million millimeter mini marathon for inclusion. The event, which will be held at noon on May 21 at the high school, invites all members of the community to come together to walk, run or just hang out while celebrating inclusion for all.

Fairmont High School is a Unified Champion School through Special Olympics Minnesota. The mission is to promote inclusion for all– both inside the school and throughout the community.

While Unified Cardinals was formed several years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic put a damper on any meetings and events but the club came together this school year and participated in its first event when the unified basketball team participated in the South Metro Regional Tournament in Eagan.

The goal of Unified Sports is to bring people together with and without disabilities in order to promote friendship and understanding between team members and to ensure every player has an opportunity to contribute to their team.

The upcoming mini marathon for inclusion will be the Unified Cardinal’s first time putting on an event for the whole community. The “marathon” is a million millimeters, which equals 1K or a little over two laps around the track.

“Anyone can really do it. You can walk it or run. Really it’s an event to celebrate inclusion and have a good time together,” said Fairmont High School student, Solveig Senf.

Senf and other FHS students Mia Acosta and Kynlie Anderson are on the planning committee for the event.

“It’s also to encourage people to go out and talk to people they normally wouldn’t talk to to see that you’re not as different from people as you think,” said Anderson.

As for the target audience, it’s literally everyone. There are no age limits or restrictions. The desire is to have students and staff from Fairmont Area Schools, along with anyone and everyone in the broader community and beyond, to participate.

“I think the intention is to not have a specific demographic,” said Senf.

Mark Hernes is a math teach at the high school and advisor of Unified Cardinals. He’s been heavily involved in planning the event.

“The main purpose of Unified Champions Schools is to erase those barriers based on physical or intellectual abilities. We’re taking that and really trying to erase any barriers that separate us,” Hernes said.

He said a goal of the club is to put on events like the mini marathon in order to help bring the community together, separate of any differences people have.

“People do 5Ks and 10Ks all the time. A million millimeters sounds way cooler than 1K,” Hernes said with a laugh.

He said they hope that the mini marathon is the first annual event and that the Unified Cardinals club continues to put on other community events as well.

“I’m hoping that we can get this to expand to other schools in our area so that we can forge a partnership with them,” Hernes said.

Right now, the nearest Unified Champion School is in Albert Lea.

“We have to go to the cities to compete in basketball or soccer. I would love it if we could compete here on a Saturday and have teams from all area schools,” Hernes said.

While the mini marathon is on May 21, on May 11, members of Unified Cardinals will participate in a soccer game in St. Paul.

“From talking to the kids who did participate in unified basketball, I think it was just as much, if not more of a fun experience for the unified partners, your typical varsity athletes… everyone involved had a fun day. I think the kids playing soccer are very much looking forward to it,” Senf said.

Hernes reiterated why he’d like to have more Unified Champion Schools in southern Minnesota.

“We had 20 kids who had a great day there (at basketball) and we’ll have 20 kids who have a great day at soccer, but if we can do it here, we can involve much more of our student body and our community,” Hernes said.

The students shared why they’re looking forward to participating in the mini marathon.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a part of a community event, and I think the message of the million millimeter mini marathon is just so important, especially now,” said Senf.

Anderson admitted that when she first joined Unified Cardinals she was unsure of what to expect.

“I started hanging out with some of the kids with special needs and I had a lot of fun with them. In your head, you think different, but it’s not always the case. I want the community to see that people aren’t as different as you think and break the stereotype you have in your head,” Anderson said.

All participants will receive a meal including pork chop on a stick, watermelon, chips, cookie and water, as well as a T-shirt. It’s just $5 to register.

The event intentionally has a low cost as financial limitations can be a barrier to inclusion. Hernes said they have businesses and organizations in the community that are partnering with them for the event.

“We want it to be accessible for everyone,” Hernes said.

Those interested should register by May 10 to guarantee that their T-shirt will be ready and waiting for them on the day of the event. However, anyone can register leading up to the day of the event. They will just receive their T-shirt later. Registration can be done through Fairmont Community Education and Recreation at fairmont.k12.mn.us/o/CER.

“It’s inclusive for everyone, from tiny tinies, to great-grandmas to people in wheelchairs,” Hernes said.

Senf added that it doesn’t take much effort to be a part of.

“If you have a few hours on the afternoon of the 21st, you can be a part of it,” she said