SOPC ready for annual Walk for Life Oct. 2 at SSCC

  The Southern Ohio Pregnancy Center's 18th annual Walk for Life will be held Saturday, Oct. 2 at 9 a.m.

   Southern Ohio Pregnancy Center (SOPC) executive director Cathy Griffith, who has served as director since 2007 and previously served as the chairman of the center's board, said that plans are under way and that she is excited about various changes to the schedule this year, including the first-ever Ride for Life.

   Walkers can register any time up to the day of the event or can register on the morning of the Walk, but people who pre-register will receive a free T-shirt. Walkers then are asked to gather sponsors to support them during their walk. Sponsor forms are available at the SOPC office, and Griffith said that receipts are available for donors

and there is no minimum or maximum amount of money required for walkers to raise.

   "However much you can do is fine," Griffith said.

   Registration begins at the Southern State Community College central campus track at 8 a.m. and ends at 8:45, with the walk beginning (rain

or shine) at 9 a.m. The walk is three miles long, and participants can go at their own pace.

   Griffith said that this is the second year the Walk for Life will be held at the SSCC track.

   "It's a big enough track to accommodate everyone: people with strollers, runners, walkers," Griffith said.

   For the first time, the Walk for Life is also incorporating a Ride for Life for motorcycle riders. The Ride for Life registration begins at Southern State at 10 a.m. and costs $10 per bike or $15 per couple riding together. The "walkers" and "riders" will enjoy a meal together at 10:30 a.m., then participate in a balloon launch at 10:45 a.m. in

memory of each baby who died because of abortion in Highland County in 2009 and in honor of each of the "2009 new arrivals." The walkers will then "give a huge send-off" to the riders at 11 a.m.

   Rewards will be given to individuals and groups raising the most money, including walk lap incentives for children; prizes for the youth, teen, and adult walker raising the most money. Griffith added that this year, all youth groups raising over $1,000 will receive their choice of a cornhole set or a movie/pizza night.

   "We used to give a cornhole set to only the top youth group," Griffith said. "This year, all youth groups raising over $1,000 will get one or the other [a cornhole set or movie/pizza night]."

   SOPC was founded in 1991 to serve women with untimely or unexpected pregnancies. The office provides pregnancy tests, counseling, and

educational material, all of which are free and confidential, and Griffith said that the center keeps baby clothes and supplies for

babies birth to 24 months. Their eight-week workshops cover such topics as health and safety, nutrition, budgeting, and parenting. The

SOPC also offers Bible studies.

   The SOPC is funded by private donations and their two primary fundraisers, the Walk for Life and their SOPC Banquet. They also have smaller fundraisers, such as Baby Bottle Blessings, where churches or groups collect change in baby bottles. Griffith said that the SOPC has received an impressive $8,000 in funds just from Baby Bottle Blessings in 2010.

   "Our goal is to make $13,000 to $15,000," Griffith said. "That would be wonderful."

   Griffith added that the Center raised approximately $10,000 at last year's walk.

   "Our client load continues to increase," Griffith said, noting that they have had 102 more clients from January-August 2010 than in the same period in 2009.

   "However, the funds continue to be there, which is a phenomenal thing in this county."

   SOPC is located at 125 West Walnut Street in Hillsboro. For more information on the Walk for Life or on services offered by the SOPC,

contact the office at (937) 393-2990 or visit their website at www.sopcwecare.com.

  The Southern Ohio Pregnancy Center's 18th annual Walk for Life will be held Saturday, Oct. 2 at 9 a.m.

   Southern Ohio Pregnancy Center (SOPC) executive director Cathy Griffith, who has served as director since 2007 and previously served as the chairman of the center's board, said that plans are under way and that she is excited about various changes to the schedule this year, including the first-ever Ride for Life.

   Walkers can register any time up to the day of the event or can register on the morning of the Walk, but people who pre-register will receive a free T-shirt. Walkers then are asked to gather sponsors to support them during their walk. Sponsor forms are available at the SOPC office, and Griffith said that receipts are available for donors and there is no minimum or maximum amount of money required for walkers to raise.

   "However much you can do is fine," Griffith said.

   Registration begins at the Southern State Community College central campus track at 8 a.m. and ends at 8:45, with the walk beginning (rain or shine) at 9 a.m. The walk is three miles long, and participants can go at their own pace.

   Griffith said that this is the second year the Walk for Life will be held at the SSCC track.

   "It's a big enough track to accommodate everyone: people with strollers, runners, walkers," Griffith said.

   For the first time, the Walk for Life is also incorporating a Ride for Life for motorcycle riders. The Ride for Life registration begins at Southern State at 10 a.m. and costs $10 per bike or $15 per couple riding together. The "walkers" and "riders" will enjoy a meal together at 10:30 a.m., then participate in a balloon launch at 10:45 a.m. in memory of each baby who died because of abortion in Highland County in 2009 and in honor of each of the "2009 new arrivals." The walkers will then "give a huge send-off" to the riders at 11 a.m.

   Rewards will be given to individuals and groups raising the most money, including walk lap incentives for children; prizes for the youth, teen, and adult walker raising the most money. Griffith added that this year, all youth groups raising over $1,000 will receive their choice of a cornhole set or a movie/pizza night.

   "We used to give a cornhole set to only the top youth group," Griffith said. "This year, all youth groups raising over $1,000 will get one or the other [a cornhole set or movie/pizza night]."

   SOPC was founded in 1991 to serve women with untimely or unexpected pregnancies. The office provides pregnancy tests, counseling, and educational material, all of which are free and confidential, and Griffith said that the center keeps baby clothes and supplies for babies birth to 24 months. Their eight-week workshops cover such topics as health and safety, nutrition, budgeting, and parenting. The SOPC also offers Bible studies.

   The SOPC is funded by private donations and their two primary fundraisers, the Walk for Life and their SOPC Banquet. They also have smaller fundraisers, such as Baby Bottle Blessings, where churches or groups collect change in baby bottles. Griffith said that the SOPC has received an impressive $8,000 in funds just from Baby Bottle Blessings in 2010.

   "Our goal is to make $13,000 to $15,000," Griffith said. "That would be wonderful."

   Griffith added that the Center raised approximately $10,000 at last year's walk.

   "Our client load continues to increase," Griffith said, noting that they have had 102 more clients from January-August 2010 than in the same period in 2009.

   "However, the funds continue to be there, which is a phenomenal thing in this county."

   SOPC is located at 125 West Walnut Street in Hillsboro. For more information on the Walk for Life or on services offered by the SOPC, contact the office at (937) 393-2990 or visit their website at www.sopcwecare.com.