Join Grandma Thomas' 12th annual Walk-a-Thon

On behalf of Central Navajo Youth Opportunities Coalition's (CNYOC) 12th annual Grandma Thomas Walk-a-Thon scheduled for Wednesday, June 29 to Saturday, July 2. I would like to invite your participation and assistance in joining our efforts to make this year's event a complete success.

The Walk-a-Thon was conceived by Grandmother Majorie Thomas, a retired Navajo educator and former school administrator from Chinle. She is in her mid-70's and has been hampered by a life-long diabetic condition. Yet she has made a commitment to fulfill a dream of building a youth recreational facility in central Navajo after seeing enough youth violence claiming lives and destroying young families.

The Walk-a-thon is a four-day 70-mile hike between Chinle, Ganado and Window Rock, with three nights of outdoor camping along Arizona highways 191 and 264. The walk is open to anyone wishing to participate and is supported by many community volunteers including various Navajo tribal health and safety programs, Apache County Sheriff Department, Arizona Highway Patrol, Navajo Police Districts, Navajo Veterans, Senior Citizen groups, Indian Health Service units, invited guests, news media, and most important, children of all ages.

The Walk-a-thon is only a local fund-raiser meaning that the CNYOC is also pursuing other alternatives of seeking much-needed funds in the range of $25 million. These include grant-writing to county, state, federal governments, universities and colleges, and sifting through private philanthropic resources and foundations nationally and internationally. A new CNYOC fund-raising idea in the works is to utilize the network of media entertainment and internet technology to promote and draw attention to Grandma Thomas' work to construct a multi-purpose youth center based on culture, heritage and tradition.

For this year's Walk-a-Thon we have already approached many local and off-reservation business establishments requesting for donations of items to be given and used by our volunteers and walk participants, but as usual we are always in need of items such as: bottled drinking water, energy refreshments and snacks, Gatorade, fresh fruit, lip balm, sunscreen-sun block, umbrellas, brimmed hats, canes for elders, light folding chairs, sunglasses, insect repellents, and bright colored t-shirts for all walk participants if at all possible.

The Walk-a-Thon also welcomes monetary donations of cash, checks and/or money orders, either in person or via postal mail. Checks and money orders are to be made out to: CNYOC, P.O. Box 2060, Chinle, AZ 86503.

CNYOC, a nonprofit organization has asked Dineh Cooperatives, Incorporated (DCI) of Chinle to be its fiscal agent. DCI is the Navaho Nation's community development corporation and has a 33-year history of successful grants management and project implementation. It is also a nonprofit organization exempt from tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and its identification number is 86-0267934. The phone number is 928-674-3411.

In conclusion and once again, I would like to invite everyone to come out and join Grandma Thomas in her annual walk. The popular Navajo Nation IHS "Just Move It" Family Fun-Run-Walk Series participants have been invited for them to continue being active and staying healthy.

You can let Grandma Thomas know how much you support her by spending a week, a day, half-a-day or even an hour walking and talking with her. Even better, you can camp out with her. No fee!

Last but not least we need volunteers to help as flag-bearers, water crews elder/kids escort, meal providers, carry signs, banners, and carry donation buckets to collect donations from traveling motorists, provide or assist with entertainment, and to pick-up debris. Others interested in interviews, photo sessions, etc. are most welcomed to.

And finally for more information you can contact Grandmother Majorie Thomas directly at 928-674-5433 or Ed Becenti at 9280871-5027.

Ed Becenti

Chinle, Ariz.

Donate to nhonews.com Report a Typo Contact
Most Read