The Walk For Warmth started on a brisk Sunday morning. Good on two accounts, better to walk when it is cool, better to remember the approaching cold weather and why we were walking. We were about fifteen strong including Al Palazzo who came all the way from Australia.
We left New York Methodist Hospital and headed to the Manhattan Bridge. We stopped for some photos near the Barclay’s Center and realized that no one would see our beautiful t-shirts designed by Marcin Trojan and donated by Jody Yarmush because we all had coats on. Oh well. We made it to the Whole Foods at Union Square where we picked up a few more walkers and some light breakfast. We also picked up some banners provided by Ed Casey to herald the walk. Paris Datillo was a great trooper and held one of the banners up front the whole rest of the way.
Next we walked to 5th Avenue past the Empire State Building alongside Central Park to 72nd Street. We crossed the park to the boat basin café and had a nice lunch and lost a few and picked up a few walkers. Then, we walked via the Hudson River Greenway all the way down to the 9-11 museum and memorial.
We picked up a few more people and spent some time in the museum and memorial. It was excellent but bittersweet for most of us native New Yorkers.
Then we returned to New York Methodist via the Brooklyn Bridge stopping at the Fish and Sip restaurant for dinner.
All in all, it was over 20 miles and just a few complaints. Ronell Kirkley and Lorna Beckford reported that we raised over $7000 in total. This is a fabulous start to the sleeping bag season. All of the walkers and all of the donors who made up this special event are fantastic and have our thanks.
Jody Yarmush
President
The Sleeping Bag Project NYC — in Manhattan, New York.
