Many people view walking as an inexpensive and healthy form of exercise. Still others walk for worthy causes.

On May 19, the community will gather for such an event, the second annual Jackie Gilliard-Henderson Memorial Scholarship walk-a-thon.

“The purpose of this walk and fundraiser is to award scholarships to deserving seniors from Liberty County’s two public high schools (Liberty County High School, and Bradwell Institute),” said organizer Gary Gilliard.

“My mother loved people and in particular children,” Gilliard said. “It’s a blessing to be able to use her name to reach out and help others. She didn’t have much, but she gave what she had, and she encouraged us to do the same.

“The walk-a-thon started out as a means to help others while keeping her legacy of giving alive. It has turned into the incorporation of Seven Ministries, an organization that offers a variety of other programs throughout the community.”

He said seven is the number for completion in the Bible.

“Seven Ministries offers a holistic approach to life where we believe that reality is made up of unified wholes greater than the sum of their parts,” Gilliard said.

“We offer seven programs: 1) Jackie Gilliard-Henderson Scholarship, 2) youth mentoring, 3) homeless intervention, 4) senior citizen support, 5) working for Jesus, 6) recovery through Christ, and 7) back to school rally. Funds raised will help support these programs as well.”

Registration for the seven-mile walk starts at 6:30 a.m. behind the Bradwell Institute baseball field, and the walk begins promptly at 7.

The walk will wind its way through downtown Hinesville, out to Frank Cochran Drive on Highway 84 and back  to the bradwell area. Grand marshals for the walk will be Liberty County’s incumbent state and county elected officials who choose to seek re-election.

The suggested registration fee is $10 for walkers 16 and older, everyone can come out and to walk and fellowship.

According to Gilliard, a large turnout is expected. For more information, call him at 977-3527.