This year’s event will feature 5K run, flea market, turkey dinner
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
In meeting with various teams and volunteers and sponsors at the end of last year’s Hope Walk, board member Judy Bratz got the feeling change was needed.
Now, as the Hope Walk enters its 12th year, Bratz thinks the changes that are planned for the annual fundraising event will make a difference.
“We’ve got so much exciting new stuff, it’s exciting,” said Bratz. “We have totally revamped the Hope Walk.”
The Hope Walk raises money and awareness for life-limiting illness. Funds go to programs that serve local residents, including Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison Oncology, the Aurora Visiting Nurse Association and Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington.
Bratz has stressed in recent years that the event is a fundraiser for more than just cancer. Indeed, with Children’s Hospital a major recipient last year, local mother Sally Schaeffer spoke about how the funds have helped her daughter, Lydia, who has fought a number of illnesses and Kleefstra Syndrome, a newly named deletion on the ninth chromosome.
And as the event has expanded its horizons, it has also expanded its format – or, rather, expanded in some ways and streamlined in others. For its 12th year, the event will last just one day – starting at 8 a.m. at Burlington High School Saturday, May 12 with a 5K run/walk sponsored by Anderson Bauman Chiropractic.
A pancake breakfast will follow at 10 a.m., with the price yet to be determined. The event officially kicks off at 11 a.m. with the opening ceremony and the annual survivor’s walk.
New this year will be a rummage sale – “Burlington’s Hope Walk and Flea Market,” from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and spaces available to vendors for $25 – as well as other meal options.
A lunch of brats and hot dogs will be available (with tickets to purchase on site) and a full turkey dinner will be served at 6 p.m. The turkey dinner fits into the theme of “Celebrate Life All Year Long,” with those pitching campsites encouraged to decorate for their favorite holiday.
The cost of the turkey dinner will be $10. The Candle of Hope ceremony will follow at 9 p.m.
Other events include games, a campsite contest, a scavenger hunt and music provided by DJs and bands throughout the day.
Bratz hopes the multiple events will allow people to come and go as they wish – and participate as much as they want to.
“People are so busy with their families during their summer,” Bratz said. “People can come and go as they want.
“We found in the past that most of the people are there between 6 and 10 p.m.,” she added. “It’s going to be more of a family event.
“I think that more people will get involved.”
9-Pin Tap Tourney
Edstrom Industries will host a 9-pin tap bowling tournament at Towne and Country Lanes March 3.
There will be two different shifts of bowlers – 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. with registration starting a half hour earlier. The cost is $15 per person for three games of bowling and shoes.
If pre-registered before Feb. 20, four free raffle tickets per person are included. There will be raffle drawings, a 50/50 raffle and prizes.
For more information, contact Kristi Dangutis or Tom Clark at (262) 534-5181.
Kickoff
The official kickoff for the 2012 Hope Walk will be Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington cafeteria.
Teams can come in and pick up their registration packets, register a team or register for the 5K run/walk.
Interested runners can also register for the 5K at Anderson Bauman Chiropractic.
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