ARLINGTON The American Legion Family of Arlington Post 76 wants everyone to know that their fourth-annual five-mile Walk-A-Thon through Arlington, to raise funds for the Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, is still a go in spite of the North Olympic Avenue Reconstruction Project.
It wont affect us, said Bill Lloyd, of the American Legion Family of Arlington Post 76. Well be walking a perimeter of the citys downtown, skirting around the street construction.
This years Walk-A-Thon will begin 8 a.m. June 23 at Post Middle School, on 1220 E. Fifth St. Lloyd explained that approximately 35 walkers raised $8,800 through the event last year, three times the previous years total of $3,200.
This means we need more people to participate, but we did pretty well for as many people as did participate, said Lloyd, who characterized the walkers as comprising roughly equal numbers of Legion organization members and their children. We got the right people to knock on doors and ask for donations.
Lloyd elaborated the Walk-A-Thon is looking not only for walkers and donors, but also for sponsors to support their fundraising efforts, which he reminded the community will come back to support local children in need of medical care.
Childrens Hospital is part of the Childrens Miracle Network, whose function includes caring for kids, whether they can pay for it or not, Lloyd said. As such, they need donations to keep running which we can provide through the proceeds of events like this.
Lloyd noted that millions of American children are going without needed medical attention, and estimated that Childrens Miracle Network hospitals help treat approximately 17 million children each year, who are suffering from various illnesses. He added that donations may be made without walking, all donations over $25 will receive receipts and all donations are tax-deductible.
The local Legion organizations hope to continue their charitable streak through the fall, when theyll be inviting the community to take part in their Aug. 4 golf tournament at the Overlook Golf Course, on behalf of Fisher House, with an 11 a.m. tee-time.
Fisher House is a place where people can stay, who are visiting loved ones who are in the military and happen to be receiving medical care at the time, Lloyd said. If somebody comes back from Iraq to get treated at Fort Lewis, but their family lives in California, those relatives can come here and stay at Fisher House for around $10 a night.
Although Overlook is only a nine-hole golf course, Lloyd elaborated that the tournament will play through all the holes twice. In the meantime, Lloyd encouraged citizens who are interested in supporting charitable area groups such as Childrens Hospital to contact him.
The kids who receive their care at Childrens Hospital wouldnt have gotten as far as they did without the hospitals help, Lloyd said. When its such a good cause, it makes it easy to ask people to donate to it.
The American Legion Family of Arlington Post 76s fourth-annual Walk-A-Thon will begin June 23 at Post Middle School, on 1220 E. Fifth St., with an 8 a.m. registration, and its golf tournament will start Aug. 4 at the Overlook Golf Course, on 17523 Highway 9 in Mt. Vernon, with an 11 a.m. tee-time. To learn more about their charitable campaigns, you may call Bill Lloyd at 360-435-5551, or Barb Lloyd at 360-435-3248.