Walk for a cause Saturday as organizations host fundraisers and awareness events

As temperatures begin to cool, many Amarillo citizens are getting out their running shoes to run or walk for a cause this Saturday, Sept. 23 and beyond. Here are a few of the fundraising and awareness events happening this weekend and the next in the area.

Iwo Jima Flag Run

A local organization will host its fourth annual Iwo Jima Flag Run beginning at 10 a.m. in the Palo Duro Canyon this Saturday.

According to the club, this annual event was created to honor and benefit past and present military and veterans, with all proceeds benefiting Panhandle veterans, active duty military, Gold Star families, and area first responders through the local nonprofit BOOM Adventures.

"We want to salute and recognize the sacrifice all veterans and active duty personnel have made. We want to recognize what they have done, so we host this event and donate the proceeds to our wounded warriors and veterans," Johnny Cobb, founder and organizer of the Iwo Jima Flag Run, said.

Cobb said he began the run in honor of his father who survived the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, and he continues it each year as a way to help the community and area youth learn about WWII and the sacrifice veterans and active military have made for our lives.

The event includes a six-member team entering and exiting the canyon with a flag. Medals will be awarded to all participants; t-shirts will be provided while supplies last. Packet pickup will be held at Get Fit Running Specialty Store, located at 1911 S. Georgia St. on Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Packet pickup and race day registration will be available prior to the event held at the Palo Duro Canyon State Park Pioneer Amphitheater, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

For more information about the annual event or to register, visit them online at http://getmeregistered.com/IwoJimaFlagRun .

For more information about BOOM Adventures, visit them online at https://www.boomadventures.org/ .

Our Colors Run Together

The Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation will host the Our Colors Run Together 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday in the Amarillo Museum of Art parking lot at Amarillo College.

According to the foundation, the non-competitive event was created to celebrate, remember, and honor all those affected by a cancer diagnosis. Funds raised during the event will benefit and spread awareness about patient assistance, prevention and survivorship.

Pricing to participate includes $35 per individual for the 5K competitive run, $30 for the 5K non-competitive, and $30 to participate in the 1-mile fun run/walk. For children ages 12 and younger, admission is $25.

Attendees can also support the cause by purchasing a "Support Swag" t-shirt available for $20.

For more information about the organization or to register, visit them online at www.hchfamarillo.org .

Alzheimer's Walk

The Sycamore at Park Central will host its third annual Walk Around the Block in support of Alzheimer’s awareness, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Sycamore, 1511 S. Van Buren St.

During the event, staff members of Sycamore, residents, and family members will come together to show support for Alzheimer’s by making posters, wearing purple (the official color for Alzheimer's awareness), and joining together to walk around the block.

“We started The Walk Around the Block in September of 2021 when staff and residents could not attend the city’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s due to logistics and COVID precautions. One of our staff members suggested doing a walk around the block with the residents instead. Little did we know, we had started one our favorite and most meaningful traditions here at Park Central,” Sheila Lopez, Assisted Living Manager of The Sycamore, said in a news release.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to wear purple.

Walk to End Alzheimer's

The following week on Sept. 30, the Alzheimer's Association will host its 20th annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, to be held at Hodgetown, 715 S Buchanan St.

The gates will open at 9 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. kick-off ceremony and walk beginning at 10:30 a.m. With this year's annual walk, the organization is hoping to raise a total of $165,000; currently, the nonprofit has raised $47,833.

According to Rashmi Thakrar, program development manager for the Amarillo Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the event currently has more than 50 teams registered, with approximately 500 participants. Thakrar said the event is not only to raise funds, but also to raise awareness for individuals and loved ones living with Alzheimer's and dementia.

"The awareness is important in that we like to raise awareness with grassroots efforts, so locally, we love to engage with local businesses and individuals such as our volunteers to raise awareness and further our programs and help facilitate those early detection situations. The reason why it is important that we work locally is because the grassroots efforts are how we are going to make change and help with early detection," Thakrar said.

The program development manager said that although there is still not a cure for Alzheimer's, with the funds raised and knowledge spread, the local chapter is able to help those affected by the disease and create a plan of action.

"When we began our efforts, there was noting to help with dementia and Alzheimer's. Throughout the years, with our fundraising efforts, there are now therapies and treatments. We still don't have a cure, but with early detection, we can make the quality of life better," Thakrar added.

For each individual who raises $100, they will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer's t-Shirt .

For more information, to register or to donate visit our local Alzheimer's Association online at https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2023/TX-WestTexas?fr_id=16992&pg=entry .

Buddy Walk

Also being held Saturday, Sept. 30 is the annual Panhandle Down Syndrome Guild Buddy Walk, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sam Houston Park.

The half-mile walk will begin at 10 a.m., with pre-registration beginning at 9 a.m. Following the event, attendees are welcome to enjoy the enjoy free food, music, face painting, bouncers, slides, silent auction, bungee jumping machine, petting zoo hosted by the Highland Park ISD FFA program, and much more.

As a special treat, public service heroes will be onsite with their equipment for attendees to see or explore, including an Amarillo Fire Department fire truck, Amarillo Bomb Squad equipment, Amarillo police cruiser and local ambulances.

This years theme is "Wild Wild West," and attendees can enjoy learning how to rope a calf, ride a bull and more. The Denison's will be there with their famous J Bar D Chuckwagon to share with how to feed your posse while on the range.

The event is family friendly. Registration for the walk and event will be available online at https://www.ds-stride.org/panhandledsgbuddywalk .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Area organizations invite the community to walk for a cause