J.T. Walk & Beach Party a success

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Thousands of people turned out in the rain Sunday morning for the 5th annual J.T. Walk and Beach Party and what a party it was.

“The weather could be a little bit better, but I like it a little bit chilly, and if it weren’t for the rain, it would probably be just right in my opinion,” walker David Jeffers told WAVY.com.

Peopled seemed to take the weather in stride and Governor Bob McDonnell showed up to kick off the walk. The focus was not the weather but the cause itself, ot walk for others who might not be able to do so themselves.

“My friend Jenn said she had a group coming out here to do the walk and wanted me to come join and donate, and I figured it was for a good cause so why not?” Jeffers said.

The walk was also personal for Casey Hartneck.

“I know personally a lot of people affected by the disease,” she said. “I just want to be here in support.”

It’s even more personal for Bruce Thompson.

“Whatever money we raise this year we put right back into the community this year and next year we’ll start with zero,” Thompson told WAVY.com.

But perhaps the highlight of this year’s walk was when the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters received the keys to a new mobile pediatric intensive care unit funded by last year’s J.T. Walk and Beach Party.

“Thus far we’ve raised $1.5 million and that will be the seed money for a fully accessible park for kids with disabilities and a special section dedicated to our wounded warriors,” Thompson added.

This is the fifth year for the walk and in total has raised more than $6 million. $3 million of that has already gone to ALS for stem cell research.