MS walk surpasses goals

By Debbie Irmen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, May 5, 2008

A perfect spring day, a group of enthusiastic walkers and a team of dedicated organizers helped the MS Walk surpass a couple of goals, according to Sara Piekarski, who planned this year’s event with Kris Wilke for the first time.

Hoping to see 143 walkers, the pair was thrilled to record 147 people — who choose either an indoor or outdoor course at Minnesota State Community and Technical College — and raised more than $29,000. The grand total will be finalized later this week as some groups still have money coming in, but Piekarski said it would likely hit $30,000.

“Every year (the walk) just gets bigger and bigger,” Piekarski said. “And the weather was unbelievable; I think that saved the day.”

The walk, held at the college for the first time, was a great location, she said, offering both an indoor track, which many people traversed just to take in the artwork on display, or the estimated one-mile track around the college campus.

“Everyone one I talked with were delighted with the college site,” Piekarski said. “People would walk (into Legacy Hall) and it would take their breath away, they had no idea it was so beautiful. It was a little moment of pride for the college.”

Still to be tallied are the team totals to determine which group will have bragging rights for raising the most money, Piekarski said.

Before and after the walk, people sat around tables in Legacy Hall, enjoying snacks provided by Subway, Pepsi, Barrel of Fun, Service Food, Sunmart, Target and Wal-Mart.

Ringdahl Ambulance volunteered an EMT for the duration of the walk in case of medical emergencies, but the proved uneventful.

“I felt so bad for the guy; he had nothing to do,” Piekarski said, “There were no minor scrapes or anything.”