WILTON – United in support of the Franklin County Children’s Task Force, the network of volunteers – 60 men, women and children – walked or rode bicycles along Wilton streets, flagged in lengths of 1.5 miles and five miles.

The goal of the individuals and teams was to make a difference in the lives of all children by participating in the Task Force’s annual fund-raiser, the “Make Tracks for Kids Walk-a-thon.”

Task Force Executive Director Steven Russell said the walk-a-thon’s purpose is to raise awareness in communities to the needs of children and families. The primary goal of the Children’s Task Force is prevention of child abuse and neglect.

“The walk-a-thon typically raises $4,000 for us,” Russell said. “It helps us fund our programs, like the new Bullying/Teasing Prevention Program, which is a school-based violence prevention program.”

Last year, 25 teams and several individuals went the distance, raising over $5,500. But this year’s turnout, while “good,” was much lower, said Task Force volunteer Maia Turlo.

Turlo, 17, a Mount Blue High School student from Industry, manned one of several water stations along the 5-mile stretch. Parked opposite the small bridge over Wilson Pond near the dam, Turlo encouraged and chatted with walk-a-thon participants.

“It’s a little sad that there aren’t more people out, but I think it’s because of the weather,” said Turlo while handing out bottles of water, blue-colored PowerAde, bags of granola, and bananas and apples to anyone that wanted them.

Earlier, at 9 a.m. in Kineowatha Park, participants stood behind a roped starting line as door prizes donated by sponsors were awarded.

Last year, community businesses donated more than 40 different gift certificates for services and products as a thank-you to participants for raising money for the Children’s Task Force.

When the prizes were gone, staff members removed the rope and, by 9:25 a.m., the walk-a-thon began in the fog under a dreary, drizzly gray sky.

But participants like Sara Dean of Farmington didn’t mind the damp, chilly autumn weather.

“It’s great to get out with the kids and demonstrate a family outing,” said Dean, a member of the Girls’ Night Out team. “It also helps make kids aware that our kids can help other kids.”

Dean’s group, which was comprised of three families with two children and one family of three children, walked the mile-and-a-half loop from the park to Doak Street and back.

The majority of walkers, especially those with older children, did the 5-mile circuit, traveling from the park down High and Main streets to Route 2. From there, they traveled the highway to Greenleaf Street and followed the Lake Road, which parallels the pond’s edge, back along Main Street and the Weld Road to High Street and the park.

Cindy Goding’s team, Goding’s Tae Kwon Do, which raised over $400, did the longer route. Stopping at Turlo’s water station on the return trip, Goding said the walk’s “been really good so far.”

It was the group’s first outing in the walk-a-thon.

“We’re familiar with the Children’s Task Force and we think it’s a really good organization and we’re happy to come out for the kids today,” Goding added.

The Franklin County Children’s Task Force is committed to strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect through mobilizing community resources and advocating for and providing services that promote healthy children and families.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com