Westminster Hosts Annual MS Walk

For the seventh year in a row, Westminster hosted the Simsbury MS Walk April 22 to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. On a beautiful Sunday morning, the Jackson Hockey Rink was a hub of activity as walkers registered, a jazzercise group performed, children had their faces painted, and team photos were taken. Promptly at 9 a.m., members of Westminster’s chamber choir sang the national anthem then Headmaster Graham Cole signaled the beginning of the walk for the approximately 500 participants with a ribbon cutting at the start line.

Photo Gallery

Westminster faculty, staff and students once again volunteered to help out with the day’s set-up, operations and clean-up. Many members of the community also participated in the walk. The amount raised at the site was approximately $60,000 including about $5,000 raised by Westminster students.

Among the many student volunteers that day were Tiffany Liu ’10 who arrived a 7 a.m. to help set up the route and Helen Rogers ’08, Hannah Sharaf ’08 and Leah Brewer ’08 who helped with face painting. Luke Lamothe ’08 and Oliver DeClue ’09 helped out at the registration table. Many other students staffed rest stops along the walk route. “It is a really good cause and everyone wants to help,” said Hannah.

After completing the walk into downtown Simsbury and back, participants returned to the Jackson Hockey Rink for lunch and entertainment. The Dan Aber Quartet, which is composed of faculty members, performed.

“We had a beautiful day for the walk this year and a nice turnout,” said Associate Headmaster Bill Philip. “The MS Walk showcases Westminster’s commitment to community service, to student leadership and to raising funds for a very important cause. It is also a great opportunity for members of the community to visit our campus.”