WAILUA — Someone told someone to go take a walk, and 300 people listened. It was a fine day for a walk, too, as sunshine greeted about 300 people at the main pavilion of Lydgate Park for the annual WalkAmerica
WAILUA — Someone told someone to go take a walk, and 300 people listened.
It was a fine day for a walk, too, as sunshine greeted about 300 people at the main pavilion of Lydgate Park for the annual WalkAmerica event benefiting the March of Dimes Saturday.
Kim Frasco had her Waimea High School cheerleaders out in force. And although the pepsters did not take part in the actual walk, the Menehune spiritsters sent the body of walkers off with a rousing cheer, and welcomed them back to the pavilion with appreciative cheers following the walk that traversed the new pedestrian bikeway along the ocean and past the Kamalani Pavilion currently being built.
Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, clearly dressed for an occasion other than walking, stopped off to address the gathering before adjourning to take part in the annual Prince Kuhio Day celebration in Koloa, and for Macy’s store Manager Stephanie Chirrick and her group of walkers, the event was “more community.”
Groups gathered garbed in special team shirts, some specially designed for the event.
Overshadowed by all of the pre-walk activities, Sonya and Michael McGinnis of Kapa‘a prepared their daughters for the walk.
The McGinnis family is this year’s MOD poster family, and the parents said they were “in shock” when they had to rush their new baby to the Mainland after she was born with a congenital heart defect that required immediate corrective surgery.
You could not have detected the seriousness of that moment as heart stickers stood out on the cheek of the little Asha McGinnis, 18 months, who was more concerned with getting started on the walk than watching Sunday Murch take the walkers through a series of warm up and stretching exercises.
Michael McGinnis said, “We owe a debt of gratitude to March of Dimes for the work they have done in this area (birth defects). Our baby’s life depended on it.”
Along with the ideal walking weather, Chisa Lee, herself a premature baby, of Island Radio 98.1, Duane Shimogawa of FM97, and Mike Dandurand of Kustom Sounds Kauai made sure there were no gaps in the post-walk programming.
Face painters, balloon sculptors, and tattoo corners offered a variety of keiki activities for the family-oriented affair.
Many representatives of businesses and organizations who have supported the walk also have employees whose children have been saved or helped by services provided by the March of Dimes.
Cara Sadira, Kaua‘i’s March of Dimes representative and walk coordinator, said that during the kickoff event held in February the question was asked: how many people attending the kickoff had premature births? About 80 percent of those in the room raised their hands, she said.
“Most of these people are here because, somehow, March of Dimes saved their kids, or their friends’ kids. The people come each year to say ‘Thank you,’ and to make sure there’s money available for services for their pregnant neighbors and the premature babies that will be born on island this year,” Sadira said.
“I constantly hear stories of walkers’ children born too small, yet leading normal, healthy lives due to the research and services available only because of March of Dimes. I’m very proud to be here today, and to feel how this community joins together to save our island keiki,” said Sadira.
Carmela Hernandez, the state March of Dimes director, was also on hand to watch the wave of walkers traverse the scenic ocean path, and noted that this event had raised about $10,000 not counting the online contributions that were taking place while the walk happened.
Money raised during WalkAmerica funds March of Dimes projects that provide holistic preventative services to pregnant mothers, as well as nursing support, education and research.
March of Dimes officials have launched a $75 million campaign to find the cause of pre-term birth, and find ways to prevent it, Sadira explained. There were over 2,000 premature babies born in Hawai‘i last year.
The March of Dimes representatives shared more data: in an average week in Hawai‘i, 338 babies are born. Thirty-eight babies are born to mothers who receive inadequate prenatal care. Thirty-seven babies are born premature. Twenty-five babies are born with low birthweight, and two to three babies die.
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
