By Nicole Mondroski

Make a Montessori education available for every child on Madison’s eastside. On Oct. 10 be a part of the third annual Race to the Finn, a local, community race that supports the Finnegan Ringdroski Scholarship fund at Isthmus Montessori Academy.

In 2011 Nicole Mondroski and Michael Ring were raising their twins, Evelyn and Finnegan, on Madison’s Northside. When Finn did not meet some milestones for his age, doctors discovered a lemon-sized tumor deep in his brain. Finn remained happy and brave throughout all of his treatments, therapies and surgeries, and he was a proud patient of the doctors at American Family Children’s Hospital. At the age of two, after 10 brain surgeries and 14 months of fighting, Finnegan Ringdroski passed away. He would have attended school at Isthmus Montessori Academy.

Race to the Finn, held in his honor, raises money for a scholarship for Isthmus Montessori Academy, which was opened in September 2012 by Melissa Droessler and Carrie Marlette. The scholarship will go to a family who may need help with child care or whose parents feel that a Montessori education would best meet their child’s needs. Isthmus Montessori Academy, located at 1402 Pankratz Ave., is determined to become the first public Montessori school in Madison. It hosts children ages 8 weeks to 14 years of age.

The race is an enjoyable run through scenic Maple Bluff, beginning and ending at Burrows Park. The race begins at 8 am with a children’s one-mile run. For most of them, it is their first try at running a full mile. The 1-mile run/walk is $25, 5K run/walk is $40, 10K run/walk is $70. Sign up can be done just before the race, but runners are encouraged to pre-register at www.isthmusmontessoriacademy.org.