Scene on Site
Hundreds of runners and festival goers hopped over to Koreshan State Park on April 6, 2019, the First Annual Cottontail Easter Festival and 5, sponsored by Koreshan and RunDurance. The community event raised funds for Friends of Koreshan State Park. The day started with a 5K run, which wound throughout the beautiful trails, then continued on to an Easter egg hunt and fun races on the grounds of this historic site. Vendors set up along the path with a variety of items. Easter eggs provided pops of color as participants raced to fill their baskets.
Walk for Water, founded by Sally Smith and sponsored by Rotary Club of Estero, generates funding and awareness for a clean water and sanitation project in Santa Eulalia, Guatemala. The people who live there must walk far and navigate mountainous terrain while carrying heavy pails filled with water, often balanced on their heads. This event helps people of all ages and from all walks of life realize how fortunate they are to have toilet facilities and inside running water. Several attendees came from outside our local community to participate in this year’s Walk for Water — as far as Guatemala and Honduras. This is the fourth year for the event, but the first time it has been held at Koreshan State Park.
“Rise and shine” seemed to be the motto of most everyone attending the Best Buddies Friendship Walk early on a Saturday morning. Held at Miromar Outlets, it was the first Best Buddies Friendship Walk for Southwest Florida. The fantastic attendance was an indicator of how popular this event is, and how important the message is to share. Games, face painting, therapy dogs, a fire truck and ambulance, and entertainment were just some of the highlights. The fundraising goal of $30,000 was exceeded. A worldwide, nonprofit organization, Best Buddies emphasizes inclusion for individuals with developmental as well as intellectual disabilities. The focus is on one-on-one friendships, inclusive living, and employment, among other areas. Many local schools and organizations were represented.
