Selma City Schools is getting closer to crossing the finish line for the preparation of its annual fundraiser.

Selma City Schools’ Athletic Department and Hibbett Sports will present the 5th Annual Butterflies and Bridges Run—an 8k Competitive Race and 2-mile Fun Run/Walk—Saturday, April 14 at 8 a.m. starting at Selma High School.

Bill Potter, a member of the organizing committee for the race, said the fundraising efforts for the race are about where they were at this time last year.

“It’s not going as well as I would like, but it’s going okay,” Potter said. “We’ve made a lot of contacts and we just need to follow up and get confirmation of the donations that are being made. We’re about on pace with where we were last year.”

Potter said that so far, about 25 runners are registered, but most people register about a week before the run. Potter still expects 120 to 170 runners to register by race day.

The Butterflies and Bridges Run helps fund a number of things for the Selma City Schools’ athletic programs, from transportation to summer camps.

“This is one of our yearly fundraisers and it’s important because it helps with the expenses that we have with the travel, and the expenses we have just to kind of offset some our situations with our budget,” said Patrick D. Evans, athletic director for Selma City Schools. “This run also helps us with the summer camps that our kids try to go to for all of our sports, it helps us with the start of the (school) year in August and it also helps us with the training and development of our coaches during the summer time with mandatory clinics they have to attend over in Montgomery.”

Evans said funds raised will also go to the Selma City Schools’ efforts to adapt the Hudl program, a service that helps put together film on sports in order to help with the recruitment of student-athletes for potential scholarships.

The deadline to pre-register for the run is April 8, with registration for the 8k and the run/walk being $7 for ages 13 and under, and $15 for ages 14 and older.

Race day registration for both races is $10 for ages 13 and under, and $20 for ages 14 and older, with registration taking place from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at Selma High School.

Registration can be done at any Selma City School, Vaughan’s Wellness and Fitness Center at 630 Medical Center Parkway, the Selma-Dallas County YMCA or www.selmacitysports.com.