By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/6/04)

A total of 367 participants of the Walk for Life raised $10,673 during the one-day event that took place simultaneously in three locations in Northern Virginia last Sunday.

The annual event which supports the programs of Children’s Services of Catholic Charities, was held at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax and Broad Run High School in Ashburn.

In the first location, 152 walkers raised $5,393. St.Mary of Sorrows parishioners from Fairfax were the largest group of participants, and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria was the winner of the "Largest Amount of Sponsor/Donation."

Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria brought the most adults, and Cathy Banks raised the largest amount for an individual (sponsor.)

At Ashburn, there were 96 walkers who raised $2,470. Prize winners include Casey Hanley, with most individual sponsor donations; the McDonald and St. George families tied with most youth walkers. The McDonald family was also the group with the highest amount of donations, while St. Theresa’s 7A class was the group with the most walkers.

The walk at Paul VI drew nearly 100 participants, whose contributions totaled $2,470.  The winners were the Rowsom Family for the most walkers; Tracy and Zack Flynn, for the largest group donation and Olga Pavisich-Ryan in the category of largest individual donations. 

This year’s event was dedicated to Christopher Maitland, a young man who was in the agency’s permanent foster care program until he turned 21. Maitland died this fall at age 25.

Walk for Life in Fredericksburg

Catholic Charities’ district office in Fredericksburg will hold its first Walk for Life on May 29. Funds raised will be used to provide counseling, medical assistance, foster care and adoption services to single parents and their babies.

The 1.5 mile walk will begin at St. Mary's Parish Center at 1009 Stafford Ave. in Fredericksburg. Participants may walk anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

Participants may register on line by going to http://www.ccda.net/ and clicking on "Special Events" or they may call 540/371-1124 to ask for a registration form. 

The registration fee for adults and children is $15. The fee for senior citizens (age 55 or older) is $10. The registration fee provides each walker with a T-shirt and picnic lunch. The family registration fee is $40, which entitles the family to four T-shirts and lunch. The deadline for on-line registration is May 21. Participants may also register on-site the day of the event.