Attendance was expected to reach between 400 and 500 people for the Huntley Hootenanny Glow 5K Fun Run, the first fundraiser of its kind, earlier this month.

However, about 1,800 people showed up downtown for the event, which helped Huntley School District 158’s Education Foundation collect about $18,000 to benefit student scholarships and classroom grant initiatives.

The foundation was hoping the 5K, which was co-sponsored by the village, would be a capstone event to raise funds to fill students’ needs.

Participants were encouraged to use glow-in-the-dark body paints, glow sticks and other colorful accessories for the run. Special awards were given for the “glowiest” participant and “glowiest” building, fence or yard along the race route.

During District 158’s board meeting Thursday, President Michael Fleck commended the event’s organizers and said if an onlooker had come across the event, he or she would have thought the village had been putting on the fun run for 10 years.

“This is the sort of event that brings the community together, and I’m so glad it’s starting to take off,” Fleck said.

District 158 Superintendent Scott Rowe also commended how well-organized and well-attended the event was.

The district extended its thanks to the Huntley fire, police and public works departments for making the event safe, as well as to local volunteers and downtown businesses for their assistance in the event’s success.