Walkathon draws nearby residents, churches and schools

By HUGO MENDOZA
Observer Staff

Tens of thousands from around the region, including Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, came out Saturday to walk in the Help the Homeless Walkathon. The walk started on the National Mall, circled around the Tidal Basin and ended back at the Mall, where volunteers were waiting to give refreshments to walkers as they finished.

Observer photo by HUGO MENDOZA
Walkathon participants arrive Saturday
for the walk’s 20th anniversary.

The walkathon is put on by the Fannie Mae Foundation.

“Twenty years ago, 150 people walked a little loop” at Rock Creek Park and raised $90,000, said Daniel H. Mudd, Fannie Mae’s president and CEO, who spoke before the walk and then joined the walkers at the starting line.

The program has grown this year to include walkers in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Seattle. Since the walkathon’s inception, more than 800,000 people have walked and raised $62 million, Mudd said.

Veronykah Heyligar of New York, a junior at Howard University, arrived at 6 a.m. to help set up the refreshment stand. This is her third year participating in the walk. She has come out each time with a different organization. This year she is with the National Council of Negro Women.

“I see a lot of homeless people in Washington … [and] every little bit helps,” she said.

Marcus England stood near the registration stand to help people find their way, directing pre-registered walkers and answering questions.

This year’s walk is England’s seventh year as a volunteer. He came out with about 20 of his Phi Beta Sigma fraternity brothers. “I look forward to this each year. It’s my way of contributing,” said England.

Chett Pritchett stood near the Smithsonian Metro station trying to track down some former colleagues that he worked with at Transitional Housing Corp., a non-profit located in the District. The walkathon is a fundraiser for the group.

The walk will “help address issues surrounding homelessness in Washington, D.C,” Pritchett said.

Joanna Kim, a first-year participant from Ellicot City, Md., came with Christ Central Presbyterian Church of Vienna, Va. She stood near the registration stand holding a sign with her church’s name on it to help gather the 200 church members pledged to making the walk.

The walkathon will help end homelessness, but more needs to be done, Kim said.

About 30 minutes after the walk began, many of the walkers started crossing the finish line.

Tim Lee of Alexandria, Va., crossed the line and said he jogged the majority of the way. He said the event was fun and well-organized and he looks forward to doing it again next year.

Click here to see a behind-the-scenes account.