LIHUE — Kayla Ofamin of the Kapaa High School Interact Club said she felt good Saturday morning at Kukui Grove Center where the Kauai United Way’s annual walkathon took place. “This is my second year walking,” Ofamin said. “I love
LIHUE — Kayla Ofamin of the Kapaa High School Interact Club said she felt good Saturday morning at Kukui Grove Center where the Kauai United Way’s annual walkathon took place.
“This is my second year walking,” Ofamin said. “I love the mornings, and this is a nice way to give back to the community. It feels good after walking.”
More than 500 walkers, a lot of them students from preschool through college, congregated at the Kukui Grove Center to participate in the annual fundraiser in which participants earn funds not only for the Kauai United Way, but for their respective organization as well.
“People are having a great time,” said Scott Giarman, executive director of the Kauai United Way. “There are a lot of people who are dressed up in costume because it is Halloween, and they’re giving back while having fun.”
Giarman said contributions for the walk are still being tallied and more will come in as pledges are collected.
“We estimate raising about $20,000 when everything is settled,” Giarman said. “This is a fun way for people to help the Kauai United Way and its 29 participating agencies affording services to Kauai’s people. It also helps their group raise funds.”
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., garbed as “the coach from H- – -,” joined Wade Lord, the general manager of the Kukui Grove Center, in presenting Giarman and Lynette Medrano-Stine with a corporate contribution of $1,000.
The Kapaa High School Interact Club, numbering nearly a hundred or more, provided support in logistics, including setting up and serving the post-walk healthy breakfast as well as walking and raising funds.
“I joined the Interact Club to start giving back,” said Karen Tone. “I want to get active in the community. There are other Interact members setting up the breakfast line. We had to bring food, and we’ll be cleaning up afterwards.”
Following a morning Zumba workout, most of the walkers departed for a jaunt around the perimeter of the shopping center. A shorter course was laid out for the preschool-aged walkers.
“I did it in about five minutes,” said Trevor Freudig, a senior at Kauai High School. “I ran it. I’m going to cool down, and will probably run it again. It’s a good Saturday workout.”
Giarman said not all groups could walk, but those who were unable to put together teams, including the Alzheimer’s Association of Kauai and the Kauai Habitat for Humanity, came out to support the walkers along the route.
“I started walking when I was in the Girl Scouts,” said Kaylee Braun, a Kauai High School Key Club student. “This is my first year walking for the Key Club, but I’ve been walking in this a lot.”
Giarman said following this walkathon, Kauai United Way friends at Poipu Kai Tennis are organizing another fun tennis tournament, Nov. 21 and 22 to benefit the 29 partner agencies of the Kauai United Way.
Registration deadline for the Mixed Doubles Turkey Shoot is Nov. 13, and registration forms and information is available at www.kctennis2009.webs.com.
