Successful Cross-Walk event raisesfunds for Union County landmark
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Hundreds of people joined together in a common cause for a special event held over the weekend in Union County.
The 2009 Restoration Cross-Walk was held Saturday in Union County.
The event was held to raise funds which will go for the restoration and repair of the Cross of Peace.
The Union County landmark is located atop Bald Knob Mountain near Alto Pass.
The Friends of the Cross sponsored Saturday's benefit. Pastor Bill Vandergraph of Alto Pass, who is president of the organization, was very pleased with Saturday's turnout – and the funds it generated for a worthy cause.
An estimated 400 to 500 people turned out for Cross-Walk, which began atop Bald Knob Mountain and ended in downtown Alto Pass.
People came from Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky.
More than 300 of those who gathered Saturday actually took part in the walk.
Some walked the full 5 miles from the Cross to downtown Alto Pass. Some walked shorter distances. Some ran.
Pastor Vandergraph's granddaughter, Sarah Vandergraph of Park Hills, Mo., participated for the second year in a wheelchair.
Vandergraph said Saturday's Cross-Walk generated close to $10,000. Those funds will go toward helping the Friends of the Cross reach a goal of $300,000.
The organization was formed in 2007 for the sole purpose of raising funds for the restoration of the Cross of Peace.
A goal of raising $300,000 by June 30, 2010, was set by the organization.
Steady progress is being made to reach the goal. Following Saturday's Cross-Walk, nearly $192,000 has been raised.
More activities are planned as the effort continues to reach the fund-raising goal.
"We've got some good projects coming," Vandergraph said.
He also noted that one area business person has made a major commitment to match pledges from other businesses.
The Alto Pass pastor credited an "amazing response" from supporters which has helped the Friends of the Cross move ever closer to its goal.
"It is the people. The people believe in what they are doing," he said