About 75 people walked, ran, biked, and even kayaked Lake Accotink Sat. Sept. 29 to support children in South Africa impacted by AIDS and poverty.

Even on a cool, windy morning we had a great crowd. Most of the participants were local, though some came from as far away as Waldorf, MD and Frederick, MD, and one participant was from Norman, OK!

As of Sept. 29, 25:40 has raised $4,000 from the Walk for the Kids, with more donations expected. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be providing a matching grant of $1,600. With donations still coming in, we’re hoping to hit $6,000.

Jackie Joslin of Burke, VA (Pic #30 below) raised the most money with a total of $815. She received the top prize of a weekend stay at the TownePlace Suites Marriott in Springfield and a $50 gift certificate to Great American Restaurants.

Lynne Thompson of Fairfax claimed the second place fund-raising prize. She raised $585 and won a 1-month free membership to Washington Sports Club.

The Wessling Family of Fairfax Station — late registrants but aggressive fund-raisers — collected $420 to snag the 3rd place prize of a gift basket donated from Curves Salon in Manassas.(Pic #41 below shows Henry, Julie & dog Truman, pic #48 has Sydney Wessling running)

Every participant walked away with other certificates from Chick-Fil A and a week membership at Washington Sports Club. Daily Grind also donated gift cards.

Thanks to the Linder Family of Fairfax Station — Lynne, Steve, Katie & Susannah — for once again staffing a water/fruit table. And Lynne even rode her bike around Lake Accotink for the first time in four years! (Pic # 017). We also give great thanks to Ron Radden for staffing the other water/fruit table.

This being our fourth year doing Walk for the Kids at Lake Accotink, we can finally say it is a multi-sport event — we had bikers this year, including Marjie & Jacob Lex (Pic #016) , and adventuresome Rick and Diane Frykman who actually kayaked the lake! (Pic #13 & 55).

Thanks to all who participated, everyone who donated to 25:40 to support the walkers, all our volunteers, and all our corporate sponsors who donated the prizes. Whole Foods once again provided water, fruit and bagels and Caribou Coffee also provided coffee.

The money raised will go towards 25:40 projects in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. 25:40 supports the operation of Umtha Welanga, a one-of-a-kind health care center in Hamburg, S.A. dedicated to treating and educating patients with AIDS. The project also focuses on pediatric AIDS – identifying at-risk children and having them monitored regularly. About 50 children are on anti-retrovirals to treat HIV/AIDS in the area – though there are hundreds more who need the medications. Doctors and nurses are working to locate and identify those children, which is a difficult task, given the rural expanse of the district.

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