Arc of Abilities: 5k Family and Friends Fun!

What a beautiful morning to celebrate The Arc of Greater Williamsburg's 12th Annual 5k and Fun Mile Walk...sort of! One of our presenting sponsors, and the site of our annual 5k, Williamsburg Landing, requested that we go virtual again this year as a precaution to make sure that we kept participants, friends, and supporters at the Landing safe from the surge in Covid cases due to the Delta variant, which we agreed was a good idea. The AoA decided to sponsor a scaled back event at Veterans Park, and invite close friends and family to join us. We had a great turnout!

Pam announced that we met our goal of 300 registered participants (all of whom would walk "virtually," on their own!) and raised over $60,000 just in sponsorships!

We are so grateful for the support of so many during these challenging times!

A few of our sponsors were on hand with us today and can be spotted throughout the pics below! BIG thank yous to APEX PT and MOVMENT CENTER, GYMGUYZ of WILLIAMSBURG, WILLIAMSBURG ESTATE SERVICES, and the AoA's very own O-FAM (the Ouellettes....Cameron's family) for their generous sponsorships and for joining us today!

Patti was here with her beloved Cam, shown here with Laura. Patti was representing our very dear WOMEN of the WILLIAMSBURG MOOSE friends, who were also sponsors! Thank you, WOTM!!!! (By the way, we will see them on Wednesday to receive a donation from the proceeds of the golf tournament they sponsored in support of us back in August! 💓💓💓)

Here are more pictures (in random order) taken from throughout our morning, with thanks to friends who shared extra pics with Lisa! We hope everyone had a great time, and again, thanks to ALL for your continued support of The Arc of Greater Williamsburg!

Carol, Nan, Pam, and Greg getting the medals organized and Cameron being a photo bomber! 😀

Cameron photobombing again, as Alexis and Bette Faye enjoy getting to know his sweet niece, Raegan! It was so nice to see Bette Faye back in the groove after just having back surgery 4 weeks ago!

From the O-Fam Team, Cameron's sister Kaitlyn (on the right), and her friend, Jenn. Kaitlyn is holding Hannah, Jenn's daughter, and Jenn is holding Raegan, Kaitlyn's daughter! Thank you, O-Fam, for your generous sponsorship! We miss you now that you live in Staunton, but we are so happy you come back to visit!!

Our event was oozing with baby cuteness! Here, Lisa and her great-niece Jordan joined Jenn and Hannah, and Kaitlyn and Raegan.

Debbie and Bette Faye looked great in Arc 5k t-shirts!

Maddie (Liz's Best Buddy from W&M), Liz, and Cameron and his sister Kaitlyn were all smiles.

Kristin, from GYMGUYZ, and her family enjoyed the beautiful day! Thanks again, Kristin, for sponsoring our 5k this year and for bringing your team to lead our movement!

Father Andy and son Drew are very handsome in this year's navy blue 5k shirts! 💙

Carrie and Pam with board member Diane Schwarz and her hubby, Ken. Thanks, Diane and Ken, for contributing the bottled water for today's event. It was a little warmer than we expected, and the water hit the spot after our walk!

Michelle's mom, Susan, Carol, and Kevin's mom, Debbie were all smiles, too!

Lots of happy chatting going on!

Team APEX PT - Kristin, Blanka, Kelly, Scott, Joe, Jordan (eating breakfast) and Haley (being shy)! Thanks again, APEX, for your support as first time sponsors! You guys rock!

We were in a great spot under one of the shelters at Veterans Park.

Pam, addressing the crowd.

Warming up before the walk under the direction of the GYMGUYZ!

Video of the warmup!

And then, we were off! 👟👟👟

We met Bette Faye in the parking lot! That's her beside the car. She's moving great considering she's 4 weeks out from back surgery, but she didn't make the laps around the park with us. Just wait til next time........... 💛

Lisa didn't realize the GYMGUYZ trainers didn't know where the walking path started, so at first, everyone followed this path to a deadend and had to turn around!

No problem, GYMGUYZ! That just meant extra steps! 👏👏

With the GYMGUZ cheering them on, Team APEX PT's Joe and daughter Blanka took off to run the course!

Great job, Joe and Blanka!

The rest of us walked, but we hustled! We'd like to thank Arc board member Christina Jones for joining us today, too. We apologize for not getting a close up, but she was here, in the red ball cap, walking with us!

The AoA's Kevin, and our friend Gdad, led the walking pack. They have quite a pep in their step!

Gdad is Lisa's dad, and he's an avid power-walker. At 84, he was also our oldest walker today! As we always say at the AoA: Just keep moving!!

Here are a couple of BWBs! (Best Walking Buddies!)

Thanks so much to Kristin Doherty and her GYMGUYZ Team for leading our warm up and the walk! It was great fun hanging out with you!

Kevin and Michelle walked well to earn those medals!

Kevin and Alexis showed off their medals to GYMGUYZ trainer Emmanuel!

Michelle did a great job picking door prize winners! Also in attendance, but absent from our photos (so sorry!) was Arc board member Adam Kinsman and his family, wife Laura (of Williamsburg Estate Services, a sponsor), and daughters Kendall and Kara. Kendall won a door prize! Thank you Adam, Laura, Kendall, and Kara for your continued support of The Arc of GW!

GYMGUYZ set up an obstacle course, and Blanka was the first one to give it a go!

Here's Kristin, GYMGUYZ owner, showing some of us how to get through the obstacle course!

Kevin and mom Debbie were neck-in-neck!

Here come Scott from APEX PT, and AoA gals Michelle and Liz!

We appreciate GYMGUYZ setting up the extra activity stations!

Go Maddie, Alexis is gaining on you!

At this station, the GYMGUYZ trainers were explaining that partners would race to whatever color of cone the GYMGUYZ trainer called out, and that he would be changing the color often, so they needed to pay attention!

Liz and Alexis were cracking up during their race when Drew appeared out of nowhere, running in the opposite direction! So much fun...and funny business!