Sunset Elementary rolled into its annual walk-a-thon with a bang Friday behind the Seattle Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drumline.

Organized by the PTA, the afternoon assembly kicked off the school’s largest fundrasier of the year.

“To get the kids really excited about something like this you have to make it special, and they’ll remember this,” organizer Susan Sullivan said. “Hopefully it will give them incentive to raise all the money that we need to raise for all these school programs.”

Friday’s assembly featured a booming entry from seven members of the Blue Thunder, followed by a series of drum performances.

Former Sunset Elementary and current Issaquah High School student athletes, Turner Wiley and Risa Fukuda, also spoke to students about the importance of exercise.

The Sunset Elementary Walk-a-thon begins at 1:45 p.m., Friday, May 7. All funds raised by students go toward school programs. There is also a silent auction that concludes May 7, including items like tickets to Seattle Mariner and Sounder games, a stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Seattle, a stay at the Westin Hotel in Bellevue, dinner at Pearl restaurant in Bellevue and a Games 2 U Fab Kids Party.

Sunset Elementary is targeting a goal of $35,000.