THE LINE DANCE KING, ROLAND FORD
by Ervin Dyer, Ph.D.
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Before summer disappeared, on Saturday, Sept. 9, FLM Haiti hosted HOPE on the Move, its annual 5K Walk and fun-a-thon.
The walk took place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lake Point Shelter in Highland Park. An optional warm-up began at 9 a.m.
For FLM Haiti, the walk was a day to build consciousness of the social and political unrest that continues to beset Haiti and challenge her citizens. But it was also a time to mark the ways in which FLM Haiti continues to help the Haitians to help themselves. In addition, it was a fun way to fund-raise to support the work and ministry that FLM does in Haiti.
For the day, participants walked, biked, or ran the route, a distance equivalent to about 6,000 steps, which is roughly three miles.
Some FLM Haiti supporters joined in remotely, walking, biking, or running along in their own neighborhoods and posting their progress and achievements on social media.
Back again this year to help lead the fun-a-thon was dance and exercise master and fitness coach Roland Ford. He kicked off the event with warm-ups and a series of exercises, dances and steps.
It’s not too late to walk for Haiti. For those who couldn’t join in at Highland Park, you can walk, run, or bike on your own to raise funding for FLM Haiti.
HOPE on the Move benefits Haitians through health care, opportunity, partnership and education. The funds raised support a grade K-13 school, where FLM educates more than 600 students; a technical center that provides trade skills and employment to improve the quality of life in the Haitian communities that FLM serves; and a health center that provides maternity care and other needs. It also supports 70 adult literacy centers in more than 11 communities that provide reading, writing and basic math skills to more than 2,000 individuals each year.
For more information on FLM Haiti, visit www.flmhaiti.org.
