Members of the McDowell High School marching band spent seven hours Saturday participating in the second annual March-a-Thon.

During all that time marching, they were not only learning new techniques and polishing up some of their old skills, but they were also raising money to help replenish their band and student accounts after taking a big trip to Disney last year.

At the end of the day, they still had enough spring in their step to put on a free demonstration at McDowell Intermediate High School Gym.

"They're wonderful," said Jerry Anderson, band director and music teacher in the Millcreek School District. "They marched for seven hours today and they still had a lot of energy left at the end. But we put them through their paces today, absolutely."

Anderson is retiring from his position after more than four decades, but he will now be working with the Erie Jr. Philharmonic.