Lansdale PA Hero Walk Returns June 8

With more than 700 walkers and about $15,000 into the coffers of the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project, the .

The popularity of the event has led to Rieg and other organizers to organize the 2013 PA Hero Walk Lansdale on June 8 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. 

Rieg updated the Lansdale Public Safety Committee on the walk Wednesday night.

The event will begin and end at Trinity Lutheran Church at 1000 W. Main St., Lansdale. Walkers will go east on Main Street for a half-hour—then turn around and head back to the starting point.

Rieg said it is about a mile-and-a-half from Trinity Lutheran Church to Memorial Park.

"You walk at your own pace," Rieg said. "When you've walked a half hour, turn around. It's time, not distance."

Afterwards, there will be food and refreshments for all to enjoy. Rieg said a speaker from the Wounded Warrior Project, along with local politicians, will also talk to the crowd.

"We want everybody to come back and get food," Rieg said. "

Before the race, walkers can hype up on the sounds of the Red Hill Band from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Registration for the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. The fee is $20 per person.

"We'll have sign-up sheets and posters at registration," Rieg said. "We'd like to have teams."

Every walker will get a T-shirt with the registration donation of $20.

Email Rieg at lansdalewalk@verizon.net to receive a sign-up sheet for the walk.

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will be given different-colored shirts, Rieg said.

Rieg said there would be a blessing, and the color guard is from North Penn High School.

Police Chief Robert McDyre asked Rieg if he had an expectation for the event. Rieg said he expected less than last year.

"We had 200 signup, but we gave out 700 shirts," Rieg said. "I think we'll have less than last year. I could be wrong. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised at the crowd last year."

The PA Hero Walk, which takes place June 9, 2013, was the number one fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project in the U.S. in 2012. According to its website, the PA Hero Walk is the time when participants walk 320 miles to fundraise for Wounded Warrior.

The walk begins at Philadelphia and ends at New Kensington, PA on Route 30.

Last year, the Wounded Warrior Project was presented a $125,000 check.

Of that $125,000, $27,000 was raised locally, Rieg said. The Lansdale PA Hero Walk in 2012 raised about $15,000, he said.

"Thank you for your support," Rieg told the committee.

Find out more at www.paherowalk.org or contact Rieg at lansdalewalk@verizon.net.