AAA Women’s Services will hold its 14th annual Walk for Life Saturday, April 29, at the Tennessee Riverpark at 10 a.m.
The walk is a fund-raiser for AAA Women’s Services, Chattanooga’s pregnancy resource center for over 20 years. Organizers hope to raise over $70,000 at the event, which will bring together some 500 walkers for the two-mile walk.
With three locations in Chattanooga, AAA Women’s Services provides free counseling, pregnancy tests and material assistance for those faced with an unintended pregnancy. Through its ministry called ARISE, AAA provides counseling and support groups for those struggling with the aftermath of an abortion decision.
AAA Women’s Services is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 organization, funded by the community through individual gifts, fund-raisers, grants, and corporate gifts.
Associates in Women’s Health is the title sponsor for the 2006 Walk for Life and Matthew Roberts, DO and a local OB/GYN, is chairman.
“As a physician, I am sworn to advocate for my patients’ health and well-being,’’ Dr. Roberts said. “For me, that means that I look out for both the mother and her unborn baby. That’s why it’s easy for me to refer young women to AAA Women’s Services. We have a like goal for these young women.’’
Other corporate sponsors include Fox 61, Comcast, the Legend Country, J 103, and CCM Sunday on Sunny 92.3. Also serving as corporate sponsors are Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, JDH Company, Inc., Jordan River Productions, Regional Obstetrics, Women’s Health Services--Dr. John Adams, the Galen Medical Group, Bob Corker, Women’s Diagnostic Services, Ringgold Telephone, the Acropolis Four Stars Grill, and J. Pat Williams Insurance. Additional sponsorships are still available.
Walkers will gather at the West Pavilion at the Riverpark to begin the walk. Special activities will be held for children, and prizes will be awarded for top
fund-raisers in each category: child, teen, liaison and group.
One of AAA’s newest services offered is free ultrasounds which provide an eye-opening experience for AAA clients, said Dr. Garth McPherson, a local radiologist and medical director for AAA Women’s Services.
“Since the advent of the sonogram, we know so much more now than we did 30 years ago when a court decided to legalize abortion," Dr. McPherson explained. “Medical technology now demonstrates that life does indeed begin at conception and that, even at four weeks post-conception, this life is a child with a beating heart and all of the organs that it will ever have.”
For additional information on the Walk for Life, contact Kimberly George, event coordinator, at 892-0803 or via e-mail at kimberly@aaawomen.org.