Teams and families hit the streets in Walkamerica fund raiser

Zach James, 9, of Carson City was puffing up King Street early Saturday morning, on one of the early legs of the Walkamerica 2000 walkathon.

"Mom, we're getting tired" he said on behalf of himself and sisters Stephanee, 11, and Holly, 8. "That's because you did all that running around before we started," said Mom, a.k.a. Barbara James, not slackening the pace a bit.

Zach wasn't going to get too much sympathy since he knew pretty much what to expect. He's a nine-year veteran of Walkamericas here and at Lake Tahoe, riding out the first one in a stroller.

Not too far behind, Kevin Holloway, 10, of Carson was tugging a little red wagon occupied by toddlers Christian Holloway and Kailyn Fitzgerald. They were part of the Momster Mob, the team of employees and friends of Secretary of State Dean Heller's office. The Momsters brought along several kidsters like Kevin, Kailyn and Christian and even a couple dadsters.

Families, teams and long-time participants were typical of the people who were out early Saturday in Carson City, Gardnerville and across the country for the 30th Walkamerica, the annual event that is the biggest fund raiser for the March of Dimes.

National companies are big boosters of Walkamerica and teams from J.C. Penney and KMart were flying company logos on tee shirts. The Mo and Sluggo's squad showed that local businesses could show the spirit, too.

Mayor Ray Masayko, in a flashy American flag Walkamerica jacket, gave some 70 to 80 walkers a pep talk and promised he'd join them for part of the journey before having to appear at another local event. Heller's youngest daughter, Emmy, 4, cut the ribbon and the Carson City Walkamerica began.

Participants chose between a 2 1/2-mile "Hero" route or a 5-mile "Super Hero" walk, which both ended back at the starting line at the Capitol Amphitheater. Participants were treated to music and other entertainment and some pizza and several received achievements awards.