Division-sponsored Walk to Raise Money to Benefit Neighborhood Youth
For the fifth year in a row, the Division of Public Health Practice will help sponsor the annual Mission Hill Walk for Health on Saturday, September 23 to raise money for local youth programs.
"It's a nice way of introducing the community to the school," said Corrine Rodriguez, senior program coordinator at the division. "It helps establish relationships for the sake of establishing relationships and helps us get to know our neighbors."
The walk was started in 1996 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the school. The anniversary number determined the length of the walk, which is 7.5 kilometers or just over four miles.
Participants
will meet in the parking lot of Brigham and Women's Hospital at the corner
of Francis Street and Huntington Avenue at 9 a.m. for registration at
which time they will receive a T-shirt. The walk begins at 10 a.m. and
travels through the neighborhood. Upon their return,participants will
be treated to a barbecue lunch, health fairs, and raffle prizes. Later
that night, a local band will perform at the Squealing Pig on Smith Street,
across from the FXB Center entrance, at 7:30 p.m. The band will perform
for free and has requested that patrons donate money to the programs.
Walkers are asked to use pledge sheets available at the Division of Public Health Practice at 1552 Tremont Street and outside of the Kresge cafeteria. Contributions are also acceptable and can be made by calling Rodriguez at 496-0782. The individual, team, and agency that each raises the most money will be given a prize.
Proceeds benefit programs that serve youth, are based in Mission Hill, and operate year-round. This year's participants are: Mission PRIDE, Sociedad Latina, Inc., Mission Hill School, Whittier Street Health Center, Mission Hill Community Centers, Mission SAFE, and Project LIFE, Inc.
On average, about 350 people do the walk, said Rodriguez. Last year, the organizers raised more than $45,000. This year's goal is $50,000. There is no rain date.
