Kane Foundation Fun Walk to be virtual this year

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

For the past eight years, McKeesport residents and families and friends of Kane Community Living Centers residents have been taking to the street once a year for the Joan Burns Kane Foundation Fun Walk 4 Kane.

But this year, concerns about the coronavirus pandemic have forced the walk’s organizers to move the event to a virtual format Sept. 19.

The Fun Walk, a fundraiser benefiting the Kane Foundation of the Allegheny County’s Kane Community Living Centers, is dedicated to the memory of Joan Burns, a longtime volunteer and co-founder of the Kane Family Council.

“This is the first time we are having a virtual event, and we hope it goes well,” Kane Foundation board member Janet Kulis of McKeesport said. 

Kulis, who is Burns’ cousin, co-founded the family council, which gives families and residents a voice and empowers them to make positive changes, according to the Kane Community Living Centers’ website. The council puts on speakers’ programs, obtains grants for improvements to the building and works closely with Kane Administration on issues that affect residents and families.

Kulis said the foundation board knew it wouldn’t be safe to expose Kane McKeesport residents to large crowds, but didn’t want to completely cancel the event.

“The walk, which had been held at the McKeesport Kane Community Center with resident participation, is being held virtually this year due to the virus,” Kulis said, adding that a “no visitor policy” was implemented March 13 and remains in effect.

She said 100% of Fun Walk proceeds “are used to enhance the lives of McKeesport Kane residents.” 

“Funds are used for activities such as birthday/holiday parties, food festivals, musical entertainment and light-up nights, resident outings such as sporting events, movies, restaurants, church services, parks and even attending Steelers training camp,” she said. “Since the pandemic, there has been an increased request for recreation supplies such as adult coloring books, paint activity books, color pencils and markers, watercolors and brushes, playing cards, large print crossword puzzle books, word search books, scrabble games, newspaper and magazine subscriptions.”

The county’s event registration form states that participants can “walk anywhere you like, for as long as you want.”

“On Sept. 19, walkers can walk at home on the treadmill, outside with friends, at a park, around their house, in bits and pieces during the day or as a virtual team,” Kulis said. “They can walk at the crack of dawn, high noon, tea time, sunset, twilight or anytime in between.”

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