The Community Walks for Kids

April 2002

Nearly one hundred students, parents, teachers, and community members turned out last weekend for the seventh annual Walk For Kids. The Leos Club sponsored the event, with assistance from Interact, NHS, and other school clubs. Participants collected pledges from friends and family, then walked through the town of Damascus and down the Magruder Trail on Saturday, March 23rd. The money collected will support two camps for children who have cancer, diabetes, or are blind or deaf.

"Your presence here today will help send a child to camp who couldn't have gone otherwise," Leo's Club President Kim McGuire said to the assembled walkers. Moments later, several campers cut the yellow ribbon, and the walk commenced. Earlier in the morning, participants turned in their pledge sheets. They then followed the route through the town of Damascus, then down to Sweepstakes Road via the Magruder Trail that runs south from behind the high school.

Initial counts performed the day of the walk indicate that almost $6,000 was raised. Pledges are still coming in and are still being counted. The Leos Club reminds students who have not yet turned in their pledges that you can turn in money until the week following Spring Break. Students who are in the National Honors Society can still receive credit for participation if they turn in $30 or more in pledges. Whatever the final tally, the event was a definite success. "The walk is an example of Damascus at its best," Leos Club Sponsor Mr. Thornett says. "It felt good to support such a worthy cause," Junior Leo Kyle Carter says. Sophomore Leo Amit Mistry agrees: "It really helps the kids; it gives them a week to just be kids and not worry about their disability or disease."

The walk supports two camps: Camp Friendship and Camp Merrick. Camp Friendship is "where kids with cancer can just be kids," according to the camp's web site. The Carol Jean Cancer Foundation is in charge of the annual retreats. Their campsite is located in Laytonsville. Assuming that the walk generates as much money as it did last year, "the contribution will help us send almost 8 kids to summer camp," Camp Friendship Volunteer Aggie Burke says. "It pays for everything for that childÖAll camping programs, food, and medical needs."

Camp Merrick is a camp for children who are deaf, blind, or who have diabetes. The camp is owned and operated by Lions District 22-C, and is located on the banks of the Potomac River in southern Maryland. Most of the children that attend Camp Merrick require financial assistance. This assistance is called a "campership." It costs about $600 to send a child to a week of summer camp. "The $4100 that was donated to Lions Camp Merrick last year was used to provide camperships, hire staff and supply camp materials, such as Arts & Crafts supplies," Camp Merrick Board Member Gegi Leeger says.

Dozens of students turned out for the weekly meetings, where promotional and logistical issues such as advertising, balloons, marshalls, and even port-a-potties were discussed. "I got involved with it because I wanted to help the community and help the kids at Camp Friendship and Camp Merrick," sophomore Leo Katie Handy says.

"It's a great activity...for the community to see how kids care about other kids," Leos Co-Vice President Valerie Fair says. Co-VP Amanda Jones agrees: "Leos Club offers students a chance to reach out to the less fortunate."

"The walk for kids is an event that really benefits the whole community," Junior Leo Andrea Langer states. "Its something that the whole family can participate in, and feel good about. This is the least that Damascus can do." In addition to the annual Walk, the Leos Club participates in the fall clean-up, tutors elementary school students, and helps with the annual canned food drive.