Story/ Photo Courtesy of Lisa Wagner For CSiNewsNow.com

Jamestown  People will be circling the Jamestown Reservoir a lot more this month than normal as Ave Maria Village will be hosting its annual Fun Walk.

“I came up with the idea for the walk six years ago when Jan Barnes was the development director,” said Lisa Wagner, Ave Maria Village volunteer.

“We wanted to come up with a big event to raise funds for the Private Room Campaign and something that could also unite the community to join together to do something fun and healthy.”

Annie Hancock, the development director for Ave Maria, said the Private Room Campaign is a series of projects all with the ultimate goal of adding more private rooms to the facility for Ave residents.

“Essentially the Private Room Campaign encompasses a lot of ‘smaller’ projects that needed to be completed before we can start on our private rooms,”

Hancock said. “The part of the campaign we are in now is renovating our original kitchen from 1962. Once that project is completed, we will be able to start the private rooms.”

Wagner said this year, because of the pandemic, Ave Maria could not safely host an in-person event. The Fun Walk has had strong community support in the past so Ave Maria decided to take its shot at a virtual event. Participants can walk anywhere and anytime during the month of August. Registration forms are available on the Ave Maria Village Facebook page or people can contact Hancock at annie.hancock@smphs. org or by phone at (701) 952-5677.

Interested parties can mail registration forms and $10 to Ave Maria.

Participants are encouraged to take a picture of their walk and tag the Ave Maria Facebook page.

“We are unsure what to expect this year as far as numbers, but I am optimistic that we will perhaps have even better participation this year because we live in such a loving, supportive community,” Wagner said. “We want the whole community to continue to support this very worthy cause even though it may look different this year. The Private Room Campaign is going to make a significant impact on the quality of life of the residents of Ave Maria.”

The original course offered the flexibility to walk a one-mile loop, located on the north side of Ave Maria by the reservoir, just one time or up to four times, depending on one’s fitness level.

Participants could take a leisurely stroll or speed walk but Wagner said organizers just wanted to encourage people of all ages and fitness levels to get out there and move.

“Walking is one of the easiest ways to help you stay fit and increase your quality of life at any age,” Wagner said.

“I had found most other walks in the community are a 5K or more – and many people are intimidated by that distance, especially older seniors or those just starting their fitness journey.

“Therefore many people would just not participate in events such as these – I wanted to change that. I wanted a walk that everyone could feel comfortable participating in – all while supporting the dear sweet residents of Ave Maria.”

Wagner said the Fun Walk is different from other walks in that it is designed to meet the needs of everyone – young or old, in shape or out of shape, super fit or people just starting their fitness journey.

Wagner said Ave Maria Village is dedicated to the health and well-being of its residents and the community.

“Getting out for a walk is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wagner said. “Let’s face it – this has been a stressful time for everyone. Exercise and physical activity is a proven way to help deal with that stress. Walking is good for us both physically and mentally.”

Hancock said holding the event virtually creates an opportunity for those across the United States to participate in the walk.

“The North Dakota Long Term Care Association’s theme through this COVID-19 journey has been to find the silver lining in the struggles we are facing as facilities,”

Hancock said.

“I extended that challenge to this event.

While it is unfortunate we can’t come together as friends and supporters of Ave Maria Village and walk together, hosting the event virtually and essentially whenever it works best for those who participate allows people from all over to support Ave Maria Village through this fundraiser.” kgerber@jamestownsun.com / @ GerberKaitlyn on Twitter