WalkAmerica

RIVER BEND, North Carolina

April 5, 2003  -   For the third consecutive year,  March of Dimes choose River Bend for it's Annual WalkAmerica. On a bright sunny Saturday morning, over 100 walkers gathered at Ritter Field to begin the 4 1/2 mile walk through the beautiful streets of River Bend, now  ablaze  with colorful azaleas, dogwoods and other flowering trees and plants.  The event was opened by the March of Dimes  S.E. Community Director Karia Stevens. She expressed her appreciation to River Bend for their help in setting up the route, providing police escort, rest stations, and ambulance facilities. 

     Colleen Maloney, WCTI TV-12 Honorary Walk Chair thanked the walkers and sponsors  of the Walk for their support. Her address follows:

    Good morning and Welcome to the New Bern WalkAmerica.  Wow, this is a terrific turn-out.  You may not think of yourselves as heroes, but you really are.  Because you're taking the walk that saves babies born too small, too soon.  Babies who must fight  just to survive.  And that makes ALL OF YOU heroes for babies in our community  -- and across the nation.
For thirty-three years, heroes like you have been stepping out in the oldest and best walking event in the country to give every baby a fighting chance.  The steps you take today will help fund cutting edge research and innovative programs that search for the causes of premature birth and help prevent pre-term labor from happening. 

    With your help, we are closer to the day when no baby is born so small it  fits in the palm of a hand.  WalkAmerica is a national tradition - and one of the best run walking events in the country.  And the March of Dimes is one of the best-run nonprofit organizations in America.  The money you raise today is used wisely..  Seventy-eight cents of every dollar spent goes to research and programs to help save babies lives. 

                                                                                                                                                                                      It was a  day with bright sunshine with mild temperatures.  Mayor Jim Findley (right)  gave the walkers a warm welcome to River Bend.  He praised them for their support of WalkAmerica and thanked them for coming and extended an invitation to come back next year.

  

RIVER BEND SUPPORTS WALKAMERICA

    Heather Lynn Tate led the warm-up exercises. After a brisk warm-up session,  the walkers then lined up behind the Police escort car driven by Chief Duke Pratt which got underway at 10:00 A.M. 
    In addition to members of the local police force, Chief Pratt had called on the Community Watch  to assist in parking and traffic control.  Members were assigned to direct traffic at each street intersection to ensure walkers had safe passage.    Rest stops were provided for those requiring time to regain their breath while the Rhems First Responders monitored and were prepared to render First Aid Services. 

After the walk, everyone was invited back to Town Hall for a party. 

   The pictures below were taken by Webmaster Al Kish.

Thank You River Bend