Hello everyone! 
Last Saturday (November 6) was the 1st Annual Austin NEDA Walk at Mueller Lake Park. As you all know from my previous post, I had an integral role in planning and promoting the walk and the result was not a disappointment! We had a great turnout for hosting the very first NEDA Walk in the state of Texas.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone that helped to sponsor me or that participated in the walk. You truly were part of such a good cause and I can’t begin to explain how much your donation or your time has meant to me.
I arrived to help set up everything for the walk around 8am and the walk officially started around 10am. I was chosen to be the designated photographer for the day since I had brought my camera. I tried to embrace my role wholeheartedly and I took a TON of pictures… here are some of the best!
The beautiful lake in the middle of the park… and some geese!
Some helpful volunteers and the raffle prize table!
Janessa helped get things started and rounded up everyone for a warm-up before the walk.
Leilani led the warm up with jumping jacks and stretching.
Everyone warming up!
This was the winning fundraising team called “Freedom is Beauty”. They raised $455! It was great to see a group of people that were really excited about the walk and even made matching shirts!
My sister, mom, and niece came all the way from San Antonio to join me in the walk. We were really lucky it was such a nice day!
Some fellow walkers!
Kaalah and Josh.
Mom and me!
NEDA shirts!
Ashley and me. Something tells me sunglasses would have been a smart idea.
Mom and sister!!
Ashley and Lily (my niece!).
One of our sponsors was Cedar Springs which is a treatment center in Austin with an intensive day treatment program.
After the walk, we all gathered together to hear speakers and to give out the raffle prizes.
Shannon Cutts, the author of “Beating Ana” and the founder of MentorCONNECT was our keynote speaker. MentorCONNECT is a free support system that pairs individuals that have achieved recovery from an eating disorder with those that are currently working toward recovery.
The organizers of the walk with our guest speaker: Janessa, Leilani, Jessica, Shannon Cutts, and me!
The walk was a wonderful event and we couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of all of you! Altogether I raised $470 and was the 2nd highest individual fundraiser for the walk! So, thank you for all your help and kindness! I look forward to next year!
Great Pictures – Lots of SMILING people – looks like they all had a a great time !
Hi!
I was on the Freedom is Beauty team and found your post through a google search – wanted to see if anyone had written anything about the walk! I am doing a short post on it as well for AdiosBarbie.com where I am an occasional contributor. Your photos came out much better than the couple that I took, so I was wondering if I could use one or two and credit them to you? Can you follow up with me either way and let me know? My email is valerie.kusler@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Valerie
Hey Valerie!
I guess I didn’t realize my blog showed up on google!
I can certainly send you some photos. I’ll email you asap.
Shannon
Hey Shannie
Wow, what an awesome event. Thanks for sharing the photos. Congratulations on pulling it off so successfully. I think it’s great what you doing.
Terry
Hey!!!
I’m going to coordinate a NEDA walk in Dallas, TX in March 2012….I haven’t even received my packet yet and I’m biting at the bit to start planning! I was wondering if you had any good advice for hosting such an event. I’ve never organized a walk before!