All welcome to join Arch March charity walk April 14
Two well-known arches – the University of St. Thomas’ Summit Avenue arches and McDonald’s trademark arches – will figure prominently in an upcoming charity walk by St. Thomas students, staff, faculty, alumni and neighbors.
The Arch March, which organizers hope will be an annual event, starts at noon Saturday, April 14, at the St. Thomas arches. Participants will hike three miles to the Ronald McDonald House at 621 Oak Street, S.E., Minneapolis, where they will present donations collected to support the work of the house.
The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for up to 48 families of chronically and terminally ill children receiving medical care in the Twin Cities. Worldwide, more than 10 million families have benefited from Ronald McDonald Houses.
The walk, open to the public, is a cooperative effort of three St. Thomas student organizations: the campus chapter of the American Marketing Association, Entrepreneurship Society and All College Council, which is the student government at the university.
Money is being raised through pledges for the walk and through the collection of pop tabs. Approximately 800 “pop-tab houses” have been placed in residence halls, recycling bins and other locations throughout the St. Thomas campus. The Ronald McDonald House Pop-Tab Collection Program was initiated in 1987 here in the Twin Cities; since then about 400 million tabs have been collected nationally, generating more than $4 million.
Those who would like to contribute to the effort can deposit pop tabs in the containers; participate in the walk and collect pledges; help support someone who is walking; or send a check, made out to Ronald McDonald House, to Greg Cattin, one of the student organizers, at Mail #5509.
The Cities 97 radio station is supporting the effort and will park a music-playing van near the St. Thomas arches at the start of the walk.
A reception and check-presentation will be held at the Ronald McDonald at the end of the walk. Participants will have the choice of walking back to the St. Thomas campus, or ride back in a bus.
For more information about the event, contact Jason Utgaard, (651) 335-0035. Information about the march also is posted on the Entrepreneurship Society Web page.
