The First Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk Was A Success

Chalk Angel at the Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk

The Green Girl is thrilled to report that the first Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk was a success.

Preliminary walk figures show a total of more than $874,000 was raised nationwide for the Angelman Syndrome Foundation.

The final numbers have not yet been tallied but we had over 250 participants and 50 student volunteers.

Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk Registration Table

As I mentioned back in January when we first started planning this event, we chose Shane's Inspiration Universally Accessible Playground as the location.

There were a total of two volunteers who undertook the task of organizing this event, a father of an child with Angelman Syndrome, Pankaj, and me.

Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk participant goodie bags

Neither one of us had any prior experience with event coordination but we are both passionate about the cause and we were determined to make it happen.

I used my project management skills to put together a project plan using free project management software from huddle.com and Pankaj and I tried our best to whittle away at the seemingly endless list of tasks.

I reached out to a friend who had event planning experience and leaned heavily on her for support throughout the process.

The Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk

Every time a family approached me on Saturday and told me how happy they were that there was finally a walk right here in Los Angeles, I had to choke back tears.

The Green Girl and her niece, Jade, with some of the Los Angeles Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk volunteers

My niece, Jade, and I made the rounds, thanking all the participants. Jade signed ::thank you:: as I expressed my gratitude for their support of our walk.

I was filled with so many emotions as my niece and I walked hand in hand up and down the 0.2 mile sidewalk course.

Team Pirate Isaac 2011

My heart burst with happiness when my niece signed ::pirate:: when we walked by Team Pirate Isaac 2011.

There was something about seeing the Team Pirate Isaac 2011 family proudly carrying that banner made all the hours of hard work worth it.

Pankaj, we did it!