Annual walk-a-mile plans underway

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Franklin County Domestic Violence Response Coalition announced Thursday their date for the annual Walk-A-Mile for a child fundraiser held every April.
Co-Chair of the Coalition David Hester said this year's walk will be held on April 16 from 12 to 1 p.m. The event will begin at the Franklin County Courthouse, and the walk will proceed down Coffee Ave. and come back up Jackson Ave. to the courthouse.
"We are trying to get as many people involved this year to bring awareness of child abuse in our area," Hester said.
Hester said the coalition has not named a program speaker or announced any performer for the event yet.
"We are going to keep everything short this year," Hester said. "We'd like to have everything done within an hour this year."
Hester said there has been some discussion of including area school children, but no definite plans have been announced.
This year's goal for the walk has been set at $7,500. Last year, Franklin County raised approximately $8,700 for Safeplace, Inc.
Heath Haddock with Safeplace said past corporate sponsors are saying no to sponsorship this year.
"Our sponsors are saying they just don't have it this year to give, and they are planning to have a team for the walk, but the corporate sponsors we have had in the past just aren't there," Haddock said.
Proceeds raised in the walk to go help fund Safeplace, which offers programs in Marion, Winston, Franklin, Colbert, and Lauderdale counties.
"In the past, the counties make a competition out of which county can raise they most money," Coalition Co-Chair Joey Rushing said.
Coalition member Kathy Archer said they need more teams in order to raise as much money as possible for Safeplace.
"If you know of anyone who could have a team, please call me," Archer said. "We need as many people as possible to get involved. We also want to get teams from different areas of the county like Vina and Hodges."
For more information on the annual Walk-A-Mile for a child, visit www.safeplace.org