The short trail walk will create unity and awareness to honor all
who are suffering from, and have suffered, the devastating effects
of a brain tumor. All activities will take place at the northern
pavilion (Chautauqua Area) from 10 am to 4 pm. The purpose of the
Nature Walk is to raise funds and awareness for brain tumor
research. The goal of the event is to raise $25,000 for the National
Brain Tumor Society. The event will start with a quarter mile nature
walk at 11am in memory of Carol McFeeters Thompson. Activities will
include lunch, live music from Nicotine Poet, auctions, drawings,
local vendors and a bounce house for kids. Last year’s event had
several teams from central Illinois.
Organizer Lauren Thompson Johnson started the nature walk fundraiser
in 2016 in honor of her mother Carol Thompson, who died in 2015 from
glioblastoma malforma (GBM), the most aggressive and deadliest form
of all brain tumors. It was a natural fit to have it at Weldon
Springs, where Carol Thompson spent three decades bring nature and
education in the same setting, first as a volunteer then employed as
Weldon Spring’s first park interpreter.
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Her achievements include getting the one room Union Schoolhouse relocated to
Weldon Springs, the Take Pride in America Award, presented by President of the
United States of America, and a “Those Who Excel” community volunteer award.
Many local residents experienced as schoolchildren her passion for nature.
There are several ways to support this event: show up at 10am to register and
participate in the walk and activities, create or join a fundraising team,
donate online or at the event, donate goods, or be a vendor. To donate, join or
create a team use the link
https://nbtsevents.braintumor.org/event/
2018-3rd-annual-nbts-nature-alk/e185662.
For details on event activities and offerings, please contact Lauren Thompson at
217-622-8294 or Thompson.lauren84@gmail.
com, or Norman Emery at 703-674-6828 or
norm.emery@gmail.com.
[Norman Emery] |