NORMAN — Norman North’s DECA club is the first high school in Oklahoma to organize a “Walk for Wishes” event, according to its organizers.
The event will begin 8:30 a.m. Saturday, consisting of one- to two-mile walks on the NNHS track. On-site registration will commence at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit Make A Wish of Oklahoma.
Other “Walks for Wishes” have been sponsored throughout the nation by other organizations, benefiting the Make A Wish Foundation and their state affiliates, but NNHS’ DECA club’s vice president for publicity Maddy Stoner said DECA is the first organization to do so at the high-school level in Oklahoma.
Stoner said this is the third year NNHS DECA students have been involved with Make A Wish, and they hope to top the impact they made on the organization last year.
“We are mostly involved with raising money (for the nonprofit), but last year we had the opportunity to also welcome in a little boy from Wyoming who wanted a ‘Sooner Day,’” Stoner said.
To build awareness for the walk, NNHS DECA has utilized the NPS mobile app, made morning announcements to students and approached local businesses for sponsorships. So far, 11 businesses (Sonic, Okie Lawn, Republic Bank, Sports Talk, Farzeneh Law, American Recovery, First Time Plumbing, Waffle House, Annabella Photography, Dr. Phillip Parker and Immy) have agreed to be sponsors, Stoner said.
NNHS DECA Faculty Adviser Jamie Wilson said he couldn’t be more pleased with his students’ passionate efforts for Make A Wish and he hopes the community will be inspired to back their efforts.
“Each wish costs around $7,000 and we hope to raise enough to send three or more kids to their wish destination,” he said. “We encourage parents to bring their children, churches to bring their youth groups, fraternities and sororities to bring their members, and for teachers and the community to bring themselves. It will all benefit children with cancer and other life-altering ailments.”
Individuals and groups can register now online, make a donation or inquire about a sponsorship by visiting www.nnhsdeca.org.
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