Still Walking For Wildlife In Sandy Hook

By Shannon Hicks

Julia Shuman and Liza Tananbaum, who pooled their energy and raised more than $900 last summer for cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico following the disastrous BP oil spill, are not done trying to help the animals of the Gulf Coast.

One year after their very successful Walk For Wildlife, the girls are back with plans for their second annual event. Fundraising is well underway. Thanks to pledges and donations, in fact, the pair has already surpassed the 60 percent mark of next month’s $1,000 goal.

The Second Annual Walk For Wildlife continues the efforts of the friends who were so concerned following the manmade disaster last year that they organized a fundraiser to benefit the National Wildlife Federation.

Julia and Liza, ages 10 and 11, respectively, will lead a two-mile walk through their neighborhood and adjacent roads on Saturday, August 6, beginning at 9:30 am. The walk will begin from and return to the cul-de-sac of Cider Mill Road in Sandy Hook. All ages are welcome. Loose fitting clothing and comfortable walking shoes are strongly encouraged.

Water stops will be set up along the route (“We’ll have lots of ice cold water along the way,” promises Liza), and the girls will share wildlife facts with the group during the trek.

Instead of asking for a $20 donation per family, this year the girls are requested a $5 per person donation from walkers. Also new are the blue and white silicone Walk For Wildlife 2011 bracelets available for $3 each. The team has also gone online, creating a Walk For Wildlife 2011 Facebook page.

The duo has been speaking with local businesses to solicit items for their raffle. Each participant will receive one raffle ticket the morning of the walk, and additional tickets will be available for purchase.

Each person who registers in advance for the walk will also receive a cupcake from Peace Love and Cupcakes. Under the guidance of Beth Tananbaum, the owner of the specialty business, the girls have designed new cupcakes for this year’s walk and will have one that morning for each walker.

This year’s event was originally planned for July 16, but was postponed. That’s ok: the three extra weeks gives Julia and Liza that much more time to plan, publicize, and fundraise for their event, which already has about 45 registered walkers.

“We’re trying to get the word out more now that we have time,” said Julia.

“We’ll have more raffles this year, and more crafts,” added Liza. They are particularly excited about two of the raffles. In one, children will be invited to guess how many pieces of candy have been put into a large jar. The person who guesses closest will go home with all of the candy.

“That one is for kids, and it’s free,” Liza said.

For adults, the girls have been collecting gift certificates from local restaurants and other businesses and have filled a basket with those prizes. Raffle tickets for that will sell for $5 each.

The full event is expected to last about two hours.

“BP got fined, but all the money they gave to the government; we don’t think, has been used for the Clean Water Act,” said Liza. She and Julia have crafted letters, addressed to Senator John McKinney, asking him to “dedicate the Clean Water Act penalties resulting from the BP oil spill towards restoring the ecosystems that were impacted by the disaster.” The girls have each sent signed copies of their letter, and are offering copies to anyone who signs up for the walk — along with stamped envelopes addressed to the state senator.

BP may have faded from the headlines following last summer’s disaster, but these two Sandy Hook residents are not walking away from the plight of the Gulf wildlife.

For additional information or to register for Walk For Wildlife 2011 call Julia at 203-364-1201 or Liza at 203-270-7922. Their Facebook page can be found by searching for Walk For Wildlife 2011.