Deaf Today: Raise money for local deaf charities

November 11, 2004

Raise money for local deaf charities

From: News 9 San Antonio - San Antonio,TX,USA - Nov 11, 2004

By: News 8 Austin Staff

Several charities that help those who are deaf want you to start walking for them.

You can join in the fun at the fifth annual Sprint Walk on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Texas School for the Deaf Athletic Field, which is off of South First Street, just two blocks south of Barton Springs Road.

News 8 Austin's Paul Brown spoke with Maggie Schoolar and Barbara Narvaez of Sprint.

Q: Who came up with the idea of the Sprint Walk?

Schoolar: Well it was a team idea. Sprint provides Relay Texas and that provides communication for deaf and hard of hearing people all over the state of Texas. And as employees there we were thinking, 'What is a way to support the community that we provide communication access for?' About 10 years ago we came up with the idea of having a Sprint Run and now it's a walk.

Q: How does the walk help?

Narvaez: It benefits the Texas School for the Deaf Foundation, also the Camp Sign program that benefits kids that can go to camp on an annual basis. Also, Travis County Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, they have a holiday fund that they're able to give to families in the community as well. And also the Deaf Abused Women and Children's Program here in Austin.

Q: How far is the walk?

Schoolar: It's really as long and as hard as you want to walk You just walk around the track it's a pledge walk.

Q: This is a family event, right?

Narvaez: We have things set up for the kids. We have a moonwalk We have games set up facepainting.