The Manchester College International Association (MCIA) will hold a Walk-a-thon, Saturday, May 9, starting at 10am. The event will consist of a walk around the town of North Manchester, starting at the Union, heading down East Street to the high school and looping back to the Union.

During the walk, participants will enjoy music and will be encouraged to chat, mingle and even sing as they trek the route. Afterwards tee shirts will be raffled off from registration tickets as an incentive for those participating.

Registration for the walk is available in the Union at the end of the week, as well as Saturday morning. The cost is 5$ for Manchester College students, and 7$ for the outside community. The proceeds from the registration fees will benefit the MCIA’s newest fund, which was implemented and approved this school year after being proposed by the organization’s executive board.

MCIA President Tihitina Dagnew explained the fund as “emergency cash designed to help students in financial need, for things such as rent or medical bills.”

The idea for the fund came after a member of MCIA was injured in a sports-related incident, and struggled with medical bills. The other members pooled their resources and money to raise enough to help their colleague with the expense. That put the wheels in motion with some members who asked themselves and each other: “What if this happens again?” The association then decided to establish a permanent fund that would be open to such emergencies.

MCIA hopes to continue adding to the fund year after year with fundraisers throughout the year, with a goal of at least two a year, as well as with alumni contributions.

As of right now, the fund is only available to active MCIA members, seeing as it is still a new concept and still growing in monetary amount.

“It will become more active next year,” Dagnew said, “and we are looking to open it up to more students if we get a substantial amount of funds together in the future.”

The walk will also serve as a publicity event for the MCIA. “I think the Walk-a-thon is great because it encourages awareness of MCIA and what we do,” said MCIA executive board member Katy Dunlap.

If the weather should be disagreeable for the outside plans, MCIA will notify participants of an alternate plan. Those planning to attend should stay alert and watch for notifications from the organization.

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