Weekend walk will benefit Southeast women's athletics

Cindy Gannon has been affiliated with Southeast Missouri State athletics all of her adult life, so it's no surprise that the university's women's sports programs are dear to her heart.

On Saturday, an endeavor to aid Gannon's passion that has been nearly two years in the making will come to fruition.

Walk for Women's Athletics is the brainchild of Gannon, who began work on the project in 2006.

The event is designed to raise awareness of Southeast's women's athletic program and to raise money for the university's women's athletics scholarship fund.

Although money has been pledged over the past year, Walk for Women's Athletics will culminate Saturday with a 30-minute walk through campus beginning and ending at Houck Field House.

"The purpose of this is really just to generate awareness of our women's athletic program," said Gannon, a Southeast graduate who is in her third year as an associate athletic director after spending the previous 16 years as the school's volleyball coach. "We want to show people what our women [athletes] do, talk about all the positive things they do.

"There is so much more than what they do on the court. There is so much more than just a volleyball player or a basketball player. These are leaders and role models, great student-athletes. We just want to highlight that."

Saturday's walk will begin around 9:30 a.m., after a 9 a.m. check-in. Many of Southeast's coaches and athletes will be on hand.

After the walk, which Gannon expects to include upwards of 200 people, there will be a light brunch at Houck Field House, along with presentations that include door prizes and special prizes.

Gannon said anybody who donates $40 receives a T-shirt, with a T-shirt and water bottle going to those who donate $70. For a donation of $100 or more, people receive a T-shirt and water bottle, along with being eligible for special prizes.

But Gannon emphasized that people can donate any amount they like — no matter how small — and even people not wishing to donate money can simply show up Saturday and participate in the walk.

"People can still come out. They don't even have to donate money or be on a [walking] team," said Gannon, who led Southeast volleyball to eight Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles and five OVC tournament crowns before becoming an administrator in 2005. "We just want to show people what our women are all about."

Gannon said for a long time she has wanted to stage an event designed to highlight the Southeast women's athletic program.

Similar walks have taken place at approximately 15 universities across the nation, according to Gannon, with the model program being Nebraska-Omaha.

"I think they've done this for something like 20 years, and I think they're going on $3 million raised," Gannon said.

Gannon said the response she has received to Walk for Women's Athletics has been impressive. She said the goal was to raise $20,000, and believes that is right on target.

"We're close [to $20,000] with the commitments we've already gotten," she said. "The reception has been very positive, and the support I've gotten on campus has been tremendous.

"I think over the years this will really grow."

All the proceeds from the event will go toward the Southeast women's athletics scholarship fund. Gannon said all donations are 100 percent tax deductible.

Anybody seeking more information, or to pledge a donation, should call Gannon at 651-2997. Pledge forms are also available online at GoSoutheast.com.

"I'm really excited about it. We plan to make this an annual event each spring," Gannon said. "I think this will be an event that will continue on campus for years after I'm gone."