The 14th Annual Memorial Walk/Run was held the morning of Thursday May 25th, 2006. The weather was warm and sunny; perfect for a walk or a run. The event was coordinated by the Leech Lake Diabetes Fitness Center Staff which include: Lois Brown, Program Director, Emily Aitken, Fitness Assistant,and Nina Aitken, Fitness Assistant.

The "Old" Cass Lake-Bena High School Gym was the site where participants registered for the event and for door prizes, snacks were on hand and blood pressure and blood sugar screenings were available. There were plenty of door prizes to be given away, including gift certificates to Subway and Lakes Sport Shop, water bottles, exercise balls, various sport balls and two free standing basketball hoops.

The Memory Wall was available for those who wished to write names and post pictures of loved ones who have passed on.

Cindy Doke, Special Diabetes Program Director, was on hand to check blood sugars and blood pressures pre- and post- walk/run..

Shortly after 9:30am, the walk began with Tribal Police escort.

There were plenty of walkers filling the street, nearly 300 people participated.

Leech Lake Tribal Police led the Walk and they also blocked traffic from the walk route.

Many of the participants enjoyed the nice weather while on the walk/run.

Various people stopped at the half-mile turnaround point and headed back to the Old High School Gymnasium. Seen here is volunteer Christopher Muller filling water cups for thirsty participants.

The route passed the Rest Area and followed Highway 2 East on the Mi-Gi-Zi Trail to the 1.5 mile turnaround point.

Many walkers opted to keep going and complete the three mile walk.

Volunteer, Delmar Jones, manned the 1.5 mile turnaround point.

Volunteers, Jody Dahl, DETS Coordinator, Eva Wilson, Executive Director Assistant, and Christopher Muller, LLPD Dispatcher, help hand out shirts after the Walk/Run.

Lois Brown reads off the tickets during the door prize drawing with the help of Nina Aitken.

Alvin Staples, age 86, and Dorothy Oakes, age 84, each received a bouquet of flowers in honor of being the two eldest participants.

The Leech Lake Diabetes Fitness Program staff would like to thank the City of Cass Lake, Cass Lake-Bena Schools, Leech Lake Tribal Police, Leech Lake Ambulance, Leech Lake MIS Division, Leech Lake Special Diabetes Program, Leech Lake Head Start and the Leech Lake Webmaster for the services and equipment they each provided. A special thank you to all of the volunteers who donated their time and creativity to help make the event a success!