Determined To Give Back

Walk Of Love Cross Country 5K Set For Sept. 14

In lieu of a sweet 16th birthday celebration a few years ago, Sayali Yoder opted to invite friends and family to join her in participating in the Brittany's Hope Walk of Love Cross Country 5K and Fun Walk. Sayali's parents received one of the very first adoption grants awarded by Brittany's Hope, an Elizabethtown-based nonprofit committed to aiding orphans in crisis around the world. Born without hands and feet, Sayali went through more than 26 surgeries and lived in an orphanage until being adopted at age 3. Today, she is determined to give back to the organization that she says helped her to become who she is.

Sayali faithfully trained for the 5K by taking daily walks with her boxer, Athena, and set a fundraising goal of $1,000 - only to surpass that goal by raising more than $5,000. The race itself proved to be a challenge, as her prostheses are not designed for far distances or bumpy terrain, but she crossed the finish line. Now a college sophomore majoring in video production, Sayali plans to once again participate in the Brittany's Hope Walk of Love Cross Country 5K and raise funds to help children in need.

This year's Walk of Love Cross Country 5K and Fun Walk is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Stone Gables Estate, 1 Hollinger Lane, Elizabethtown. The family-friendly event will include a 5K, a fun walk, pony rides, an inflatable obstacle course for children, games and activities, giveaways, and food.

Mai-Lynn Sahd, executive director of Brittany's Hope, encourages people to join Sayali at the event or to consider supporting her cause if they are unable to participate or attend. The organization has set a fundraising goal of $75,000 for this year's event, the 15th annual. Through adoption grants, Brittany's Hope has united more than 1,300 children with special needs into forever families by adoption. Sahd said that the organization also actively cares for and has educated more than 2,000 children through its humanitarian programs in Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

To register for the 5K or fun walk, interested individuals may visit http://www.walkoflove.org. All proceeds from the event will support the work of Brittany's Hope, and participants are welcome to create a fundraising page by visiting the aforementioned website.

Race packet pickup will be offered from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, at the Brittany's Hope office, 1160 N. Market St., Elizabethtown.

On the day of the event, registration and games will open at 8:30 a.m. The chip-timed 5K will begin with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Runners will follow a scenic course past the Stone Gables Estate, on rolling wooded trails, across bridges, and beside historic railroad tracks. Cash prizes and gifts will be awarded to the top overall male and female finishers. Medals will be given to the top finishers in various age categories as well.

The fun walk will begin at 10:10 a.m. and will follow a short, leisurely loop through the woods and around the property. Strollers are welcome.

A post-race lunch and awards ceremony will begin at approximately 11 a.m., and giveaway winners will also be announced at that time. Family activities will include face painting, miniature golf and fishing games, pony rides, and a petting zoo. Participants may also take self-guided tours of the Star Barn Village and view the full-scale Leviathan steam locomotive that is on display at the property. Among the many family-friendly activities at the Walk of Love, participants will also have the opportunity to talk to representatives of Brittany's Hope partner adoption agency to ask questions and learn more about the process of adoption.

To learn more about Brittany's Hope, readers may visit http://www.brittanyshope.org.