The 2011 Miss-Lou Great Strides Walk benefitting the Mississippi Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was Sept. 17 with approximately 50 participants.

This year’s event raised $6,500 and proved to be the best so far.

This year’s walk was dedicated in honor of Sam Kirby, who is a young man battling this dreadful disease. The walk was co-sponsored by Co-Lin’s Respiratory Care Technology Program and the Natchez Trace Branch of Foresters.

I would like to thank Dianne and Kent Kirby of Dianne’s Frame Shop for their tremendous effort, support and contributions to this event.

They donated a $250 gift basket and a $300 gift certificate for a raffle, which helped raise more than $2,000.

The drawing was Oct. 26 during Respiratory Care Week.

The winners were Katherine Bray of Woodville and Jean Dunaway of Vidalia.

Special thanks to the students of the Respiratory Care Program for their fundraising, participation and assistance with the walk.

Finally, thank you to Julie Cooper and The Natchez Democrat staff for your willingness to promote and cover the event.

We foresee next year’s event to be even bigger, and we hope others will join us.

Walton B. Wilson

Miss-Lou Great Strides Walk chairperson