Walk for Life at Three Locations

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/9/02)

Children with balloons, dads pushing strollers, seniors walking hand-in-hand — more than 300 people at three sites in the diocese enjoyed a gorgeous spring day while raising money for Children’s Services of Catholic Charities as part of the 19th Annual Walk for Life last Sunday.

According to Linda Cullen, program director for Children’s Services, a total of 336 people participated in the Walk for Life, raising almost $15,000 for counseling services, medical assistance, foster care, adoption services, shelter for pregnant women and crisis pregnancy counseling services.

This year, Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax was added to Ft. Hunt Park in Alexandria and Broad Run High School in Ashburn as Walk for Life sites.

Leticia Gonzalez of Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria arrived early at Ft. Hunt Park to pick up her gold and black Walk for Life T-shirt. Yolanda Alvarez, Laudelina Espinosa and Josephina Bariento, all volunteers at Good Shepherd, joined her "to represent the Hispanic community and support Catholic Charities," Gonzalez said.

An older gentleman, Louis Evers, drove an hour from St. William of York Parish in Stafford to Alexandria for the walk, as he’s done for more than 12 years. Asked if he would finish the three-mile route, Evers answered simply, "I’m a Marine," leaving no doubt that he would.

At each location, walkers, runners and strollers traversed a 5 km course — either along the scenic George Washington Parkway bike trail or by walking 12 and 1/3 laps around the track at either high school.

At Ft. Hunt, eighth-grader Martin Bordelon of St. Ambrose School helped hand out T-shirts as part of a school service project.

Debbie Bayless of St. Mary of Sorrows Parish explained that her family of five had come to the walk because, "We really want to support Catholic Charities. We think it is important for people to know what Catholic Charities does."

Father Chuck McCoart, executive director of Catholic Charities, led the walkers in prayer before they headed out of Ft. Hunt Park to the trail.

After the walk, as Kate Baird, carrying baby Teresa, and husband Bryan with Maria on his shoulders and little Catherine in tow, returned to Ft. Hunt Park, they were greeted by the aroma of grilled hot dogs and a picnic for all the walkers. The Bairds are members of St. Michael Parish, Annandale.

Participants had been asked to collect contributions from sponsors in advance. Awards were given out at each location to parish groups or individuals with the most sponsored donations.

At Ft. Hunt, Pat Mudd, associate director of social services for Catholic Charities, assisted by volunteer Irwin Oliver, presented awards. Tracy Fowler accepted the award for most donations by a group of youth walkers on behalf of St. John Neumann Parish in Reston. The award for most sponsored donations by a parish was won by Blessed Sacrament Parish, with Libby Boyd accepting. Pam Oldenburg, who raised $560, received the award for most donations raised by an individual. St. Louis Parish in Alexandria had the most adult walkers.

At Paul VI High School, Paul VI Teens for Life had the largest number of walkers. The award for group with the most sponsored donations went to SPRED of St. John Neumann Parish. The Morris-Mesnick family, who raised $200, received the award for individual with the largest amount of sponsored donations.

At the Ashburn Walk, the group with the largest number of youth walkers was the Giglio family. The Hawley family won the award for individual who raised the largest amount of sponsored donations. Leo Schwartz was the most senior walker and John Michael Dillon was the youngest. St. Theresa School in Ashburn was the group that raised the most donations. Walk for Life is the beneficiary of more than $2,900 raised at the annual charity basketball game between the eighth grades of St. Theresa School and St. Joseph School in Herndon. St. Theresa eighth-grade teacher Judy Welsh said the schools alternate in choosing where to donate the funds, but look for charities that support children.

Children’s Services of Catholic Charities serves 21 counties in Northern Virginia. For information, call 703/425-0100 or 1-800/CARE-002 or visit their Web site at www.ccda.net.

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