The annual walk-a-thon held by the Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services continues to be the fundraising highlight for providing benevolent care to the hundreds of at-risk children and youth, as well as adults with developmental disabilities, who turn to the Children's Home for care each year.
This year the Children's Home renamed the walk and redesigned its logo to one that more appropriately represented the many ministries the Home provides to those in need, from birth through their adult years. Moving from “A Mile For A Child” to the new slogan, “Walking the Path … Where Love Grows” has not deterred support for the Home as hundreds of walkers have participated in this year's walks.
The Children's Home held the first walk with over 200 walkers on Saturday, May 7, in Salem, where the Home's campus was opened to volunteers. Virginia Baptist missions leader Alma Hunt served as grand marshall.
The following weekend, on the campus of the University of Richmond, over 175 walkers joined grand marshall Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, who led the walk around Westhampton Lake. Both events were supported by area businesses and walkers won prizes ranging from a plane ride over Richmond to a signed and framed print by Virginia artist P. Buckley Moss.
“Children's Home staff and residents offer their thanks to everyone who supports our ministry,” said Mark Early, director of communications for the Homes. “We especially thank the volunteers who help make every walk possible. In addition, we want to thank the individuals who support the Home and come out every year to ‘Walk the Path … Where Love Grows.' ”
The Children's Home set a goal of $120,000 for the 2005 walk. The Home has raised a little over $50,000 toward this goal and anticipates reaching the goal with the help of the 16 additional walks that have been held or are scheduled to be held in the near future.
Information about holding a walk is available from David Wilson at (540) 389-2112.
Special to the Herald