Social clubs throughout the Heart of Virginia met at the Prince Edward County High School track the morning of Saturday, July 7, to walk and raise funds for causes meaningful to club members and the wider community.

Causes that nearly 10 social clubs who participated in the event supported included Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity, victims of domestic violence, Cumberland Clothes Closet, awareness and research for illnesses such as leukemia, lupus, colon and brain cancer, kidney disease and sickle cell disease. Participating clubs from the Heart of Virginia included Dynamic Divaz with support from Tha Pack MC, Classy Curves, Ladiez of Destini, Women of Works, CC Divas, Elite by Choice and Sophicated Sisas.

Following a prayer at the beginning of the event, participants walked laps around the track and served snacks and sandwiches, provided water bottles and fellowshipped with members of various social clubs. Fresh Boys Club and Fresh Boys Junior, a community organization of high school, college students and youth, co-sponsored the event.

Louis Gould III, club manager, said the walk is a way to bring the community together and generate support for causes important to people.

“It’s the best way to get the community together and for everyone to keep the positivity going,” Gould, a Longwood student and Prince Edward County High School graduate, said. “Support is key to keep the community together.”

The Fresh Boys Club supported the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity and Youth Empowerment Center in Farmville. The club will hold a backto- school giveaway where participants can enter to win, and the winner will be announced July 22.

Phinon Hurt with CC Divas said the causes she and her club members represented, brain cancer and lupus, were meaningful to her after losing her mother to brain cancer. Hurt recently was diagnosed with lupus.

“I never thought I would wake up and have lupus,” Hurt said, noting that while awareness of the disease, in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, has grown, more awareness and advocacy is needed.

“It’s important to support the community because you never know when the community will need to support you,” Hurt said.