Imagine numerous quart jars with change. Now imagine $650.41 of coins in those jars.

For two weeks, Marion Elementary School students were given the challenge of filling the jars with coins as part of Marion County Relay for Life fundraiser.

“The students really stepped-up to the challenge,” said Janet Herzet, chairman of Marion County Relay for Life.

The reward for the classroom, which collected the most money, was a treat of ice cream floats, and that is exactly what Sheila Baldwin’s third grade class received Monday afternoon after collecting $68.86.

The message Relay for Life continues to promote is one of hope — hope of surviving the disease and hope of curing the disease in the coming years.

Purple is the color often used by the organization, so it made sense to have a grape soda float with vanilla ice cream, and to call the treat a Hope Float, served by Herzet and committee members Jamie Norris and Faye Makovec.

Carlsons’ Grocery of Marion donated the grape soda and St. Luke Hospital provided plastic cups, spoons, straws, and napkins.

At the end of the day, each student in the winning classroom received a purple balloon.

This is the first year for this promotion but Herzet hopes it is not the last.

“Next year, I want to incorporate this throughout the county with other schools,” she said.

Marion County Relay for Life is June 12-13 at Warrior Stadium, Marion.

For more information, contact Herzet at (620) 382-3690.