A new athletic club is up and running at Old Rochester Regional, and it is giving high school students the chance to get their minds and bodies in shape.

Known as “the Running Club” at ORR, the Dreamfar program is training students to run a marathon with a focus on physical activity and community.

Jamie Chaloff originally created the program in 2008. A special education teacher at Newton South High School, she felt drawn to troubled students who were otherwise neglected by their teachers and were on the path to dropping out.

Chaloff took it upon herself to motivate the students to stay in school, thus creating Dreamfar: New England’s first high school marathon program. To date, 200 students in the greater Boston area have run the COX Providence marathon through Dreamfar, and this year roughly 13 students and teachers from ORR will join them.

“ORR is pioneering the South Coast area Dreamfar program,” said Megan Hall, an English teacher at ORR who is leading the group.

Dreamfar is entirely funded by donations. Local businesses and organizations, including Wareham Pediatrics, Southcoast Health and the New Bedford Half Marathon have pitched in, but most of the funding comes from organizations in the greater Boston area.

“They support everything,” said Hall. “Kids don’t have to pay for any race fees, T-shirts or their racing singlets, and if they need shoes or anything those are also provided.”

The program is open to students of varying fitness levels.

“The goal is to get everyone to run the marathon, not in any particular time, but just to finish,” Hall said. “Kids can join if they have years of running experience or have never run a day in their lives. A whole lot of teachers are joining. So not only will the students be able to build relationships with each other, but also strengthen their bonds with faculty members.”

The prospect of running a marathon is both exciting and intimidating, admits Kylie Machado, a senior in the club.

“I'm super excited about it,” she said. “The idea of running a marathon is pretty scary, but I think I'll be ready for it.”

The peer aspect of the club is a great motivator.

“I really hate running,” Machado said. “But I know that my friends will be right there with me so I'll be OK. Dreamfar isn't competitive like other sports, it's just about finishing, and I really like that.”

Dreamfar doesn't just focus on the students physical well-being, but also on their social, emotional, psychological and academic potential.

“[Dreamfar] stresses the importance of achieving a personal best in life, not just during a race. The skills and confidence students gain from their participation in Dreamfar are carried over to the classroom and also to everyday life, allowing them to achieve their personal best in high school and beyond,“ said Hall.

The students are required to be cleared by physicians before they are allowed to participate.

The training regimen was created by a certified running coach, Mary Kennedy, M.S., H.F.S., and nutritional advice is available to students by Nancy Clark, M.S., R.D., a certified nutritionist.

The whole program is overseen by Dreamfar’s full-time medical director and pediatrician Dr. Maurice Keenan, and physical therapist Matt Penney.

“Once you start gaining mileage, your body has specific nutritional needs. If these requirements are not met, your body will basically fall apart,” Hall said.

One reason she wanted to start the club was her own experience as a marathon runner. Hall ran in the 2012 Boston Marathon for the Dana-Farber team.

“I've seen first hand what it can do for people,” she said. “Raising money and awareness of something so important was such a moving experience for me.”

Hall also said running as a group is good for the students.

“The feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself was always something I wanted to share with kids. I know personally how impactful it can be,” she said.

The students are set to run the 5K Holiday Hustle in Newton on Dec. 6, the Dreamfar 10K in Sharon on Jan. 24, the New Bedford Half Marathon on March 20, and finally the COX Marathon in Providence on May 1.

More information on how to get involved or become a donor can be found on Dreamfar’s website, www.dreamfarhsm.org.