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Big Reach Center raises funds through walk-a-thon
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Neighbors | Nicole Paden.Scott Lewis (left), founder of Big Reach Center of Hope, taking a break from the sun with his daughter, Lewis Wallace, at the Walk-A-Thon held at the Boardman High School Sports Complex.
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Neighbors | Nicole Paden.Participants and friends Tori Skolosh, Erika Sahli, Madison Kraynek, and Abi Spratt take a break from the events at the Walk-A-Thon on June 2.
By NICOLE PADEN
The Big Reach Center of Hope sponsored its third annual Walk-a-Thon at the Boardman High School Sports Complex June 2 to raise funds for its organization.
The event started at 8 a.m. with registration and breakfast and ended at noon with lunch.
Preparation for the walk-a-thon began in the beginning of the year and the event was led by 20 volunteers. The sponsors for the walk-a-thon included WYTV, DeBartolo Corporation and Compco industries.
About 190 participants took part and received a T-shirt, pedometer, breakfast from Panera and lunch from Chick-fil-A. The events of the day included walking or running, a kiddy carnival, face painting, a Chinese auction and cornhole. There was even a free Zumba class for those who wanted to participate.
The individual who raised the most money received an overnight stay and breakfast for two at the Spread Eagle Tavern. The family who raised the most money received family tickets to the Cleveland zoo.
Big Reach Center of Hope is a non-profit organization, started by Scott Lewis eight years ago, and provides food and clothing to low-income individuals and families. The headquarters is in Greenford, Ohio, close to the South Range school district.
In 2006, their building was built on the campus of Greenford Christian church. The organization reaches out to people in Columbiana, Mahoning, Stark, Portage and Trumbull counties in Ohio as well as western Pennsylvania and the northern West Virginia counties.
Big Reach Center of Hope sponsors other events throughout the year, including the Back to School event in August, where it will provide school clothes, book bags filled with school supplies and haircuts. Big Reach served 1,000 students last year.