Every year, the North Dakota Association of the Blind holds their annual Walk For Vision.
The NDAB estimates that approximately 24,000 individuals in North Dakota are affected by uncorrectable sight loss — a quarter of whom have significant sight loss and/or are “legally blind.” The North Dakota Association of the Blind gets out and walks to show solidarity and raise money that allows the organization to continue to support those with vision loss, educate about blindness, and advocate for the blind and low vision community.
How it works
If you want to join the Walk For Vision, here are the things you need to do:
- Locate the nearest walk event. There are four official locations: Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston. Each location has other things happening so check below for details. If you can’t reach one of these locations then you can do a virtual walk. More details below.
- You can call the contact to let them know you are taking part.
- Download a pledge form (Word or PDF) and start collecting pledges from family and friends. To help seal the deal, we also have a letter you can share with them (Word or PDF). Print as many copies as you need and share with your friends.
- On the day of the walk, show up with your collected pledges, walk and have fun.
Fargo
The Walk in Fargo will be held Saturday morning, April 28th at the Shelly Ellig Indoor Track on the campus of North Dakota State University, the Track Building (1625 14th St. N.) Is located a block west of the Sanford Health Athletic Complex (the SHAC) off of 16th Ave. North, off of University Drive. Registration will begin at 10 A.M. at the entrance of the Track Building, a welcome and introductions will be held at 10:30 followed shortly thereafter by the Walk. Master Sergeant Eric Marts a veteran who was blinded due to his military service in Iraq will serve as honorary Walk for Vision chair. For further details, call Fargo Walk coordinator: Allan Peterson at 701-429-7209
Grand Forks
The Walk will be held Thursday afternoon at 3:30 P.M., April 12th, at North Dakota Vision Services – School for the Blind, 500 Stanford Road in Grand Forks. Participants will congregate in the School’s gym for a pep rally at 3:00 and the Walk will kick off at 3:30 or so. The Delta Gamma Sorority at UND will participate in the Grand Forks Walk. For further details, call Grand Forks Walk Chair: Emily Stenberg at 701-795-2709.
Bismarck
On Saturday morning, April 28th, a table to help promote the Walk and work of North Dakota Association of the Blind will be manned at the Gateway Mall, 2700 State St. in Bismarck. The table will be open from 10:00 A.M. to 1 P.M. in the food court area. for further details, call: Mary Verlinde at 471-7839 or Beth Bakke Stenehjem at 701-222-1224
Minot
The Walk in Minot will be held Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 P.M. , April 28th at Shelter 7 in Oak Park 1300 4th Ave. NW in Minot. For further details, call Minot Walk Chairs: Polly Klemp 701-822-2261 or Mary Stip at 701-839-4138.
Williston
The Walk in Williston will be held Friday afternoon, April 27, at 4:30 to 5:30 at Spring Lake Park, located in north Williston. If the weather that day is too inclement (chilly and windy), the Walk will be held at the walking track at the college’s Wellness Center.
For specifics or to check the Walk location, call our Williston Walk chair: Susan Jorgenson at 701-875-4266
Virtual Walk
If you would like to participate, but do not live close to one of the cities that’s hosting a walk, you could do your own “virtual” Walk. Please call Allan at 701-429-7209 for details about this possibility. Ultimately, we would like to organize a gathering for Walk for Vision in each region of the state so that no one person would have to travel very far to participate in our NDAB Walk for Vision.
If you were to choose to do your own Walk or recruit others to join you for a Walk in your very own community, call Allan at 701-429-7209 so that you can be supplied with the necessary literature and materials.