Links host annual walk-a-thon at Memorial Stadium
Published 6:59 pm Saturday, September 30, 2017
- Members of the 疯客直播 chapter of The Links, Inc. Margaret Jones, Danielle Wooten, Phenicia Nunn, Willietta Conner, Joan Roussell, president Charlotte Griffeth and Monica Gayle led the way at Saturday鈥檚 walk-a-thon at Memorial Stadium.
The 疯客直播 chapter of The Links, Inc. got a crowd of about 200 people out to their 22nd annual walk-a-thon on Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium.
The walk-a-thon is a national initiative of the The Links Inc., according to the 疯客直播 chapter president Charlotte Griffeth.
鈥淭his is the 22nd year that the 疯客直播 chapter has implemented this program here in this city to raise awareness of the health disparities in this county and hopefully get citizens to become more health conscious,鈥� Griffeth said.
The event kicked-off at 8 a.m. when cheerleaders from Southside High School, the School of Discovery, R.B. Hudson Middle, Tipton Middle and Clark Elementary helped the early-risers get motivated for their morning exercise.
鈥淓ach school led cheers and got the group excited about walking,鈥� Griffeth said.
疯客直播鈥檚 mayor Darrio Melton served as the grand marshal of the walk-a-thon and new 疯客直播 City Schools superintendent聽 Avis Williams came out to show her support as well.
Before the group started walking, the 疯客直播 chapter led everyone in a warm-up with a variety of songs and dances. After the musical warm-up, everyone started making their laps around the track.
In addition to the walk, the 疯客直播 chapter setup health stations under tents at midfield to provide information for the walkers. They handed out literature about health risks and offered blood pressure tests.
The purpose of the Walk-A-Thon, and the 疯客直播 chapter鈥檚 other health initiatives, is to highlight the serious health concerns that affect Dallas County.
鈥淭he on-going movement to have events like this to raise health awareness is imperative for us,鈥� Griffeth said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got obesity, childhood obesity, our infant mortality rate is high and mental illness. We have a plethora of things we need to address鈥� and most of them we can control with just exercise.鈥�
The Walk-A-Thon is just one of the many events that the 疯客直播 chapter of The Links, Inc. puts on in 疯客直播.
The group donates the proceeds from the Walk-A-Thon go to the BOSCO soup kitchen every year. The organization also does voter registration awareness, STEM in schools and they donate to disaster relief efforts, according to Griffeth.
鈥淲e are a non-profit that is on the move,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e do a lot in the community, and people know us by what we do.鈥�
