Fayette County students are getting in shape for next week's 11th annual Power Parade to benefit the county's Jim Friday and Asden Johnson group homes for abused and neglected children.

The fund-raiser has collected more than $125,000 in the past 10 years and is endorsed by the Fayette County Board of Education.

“The Power Parade is an event that we always support because it is a local charity and all the funds directly benefit the children who live in these homes,” said Debbie Wheat, principal of Oak Grove Elementary School in Peachtree City. Many schools use the Power Parade as an opportunity to teach students about volunteering. The Beta Club at Flat Rock Middle School produced the theme, “Power 2000,” and Bonnie Webb of Fayette County High School created the t-shirt design.

Students who collect $25 or more in pledges will receive a “Power 2000” t-shirt which is paid for by local sponsors. Other businesses offer prizes to classes with the highest participation. This year's prizes include Braves tickets, ice cream and skating parties, giant cookies and tickets to a fun park. Braelinn Elementary has been top school for the past three years.

According to director Ada Cornwell, the Friday and Johnson homes play a part in prevention of abuse by teaching residents better ways to cope with anger. “Child abuse is a cyclical problem which is passed down from one generation to the next. Our aim is to stop the cycle by teaching this generation a better way,” said Cornwell.

April is Child Abuse month and the Power Walk enables children to help other children in their community.

Business supporting the Power Parade include AIS Computers, American Business Forms, Baskin Robbins of Peachtree City, Bunn Pest Control, Chick-Fil-A of Fayetteville, Comer Properties, Cookies to You, Dazzles, DixieLand Fun Park, Elizabeth Whitlock, Fitzgerald Plumbing, Grubb and Ellis Printing, Heritage Bank, Maritz Performance, Mercer Jewelers, Midas Muffler Shop, Peachtree Skate, pathway Communities, Voxcom Webb Printing and Wachovia Bank.