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ESTERO —
For Kristal Mading, this walk around the block was personal.

Her grandson Cody Mading, diagnosed with brain cancer, had been thought to be cancer-free in June of this year. In July, the disease came back more malignant than ever, and he passed away August 31, she said.

Mading joined 30 family members and friends of Cody in the “Give thanks. Walk” event held Saturday morning at Miromar Outlets in Estero. Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Southwest Florida event was one of more than 60 walks nationwide on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

“We are supporting St. Jude for the incredibly awesome care they gave Cody,” said Kristal. “Even though there wasn’t a cure for Cody, they’re finding cures. When we needed help, they helped us. St. Jude’s hospital – that’s sacred ground.”

Cody Mading’s family and support group included his mother, four sisters, two grandmothers, plus other relatives and friends. All wore a special t-shirt made for the occasion, inscribed with the legend “eternally cancer-free.”

They joined with about 400 other walkers supporting St. Jude, which specializes in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

While organizers gave out to t-shirts to everyone contributing $35 or over, many of the walkers, like the Madings, wore their own team shirts identifying their organization.

Sorted by group, the walkers marched in blocks of bright colors. The Beasley Broadcasting team dressed in matching green, donated the sound system, and brought four vans splashed with the logos of the company’s radio stations.

Brooks Brothers, a national partner of St. Jude that has an outlet in Miromar, brought a contingent of employees from stores all around the area. Breitling Watches, Weichert Realtors on the Gulf, Nova University and FGCU all teams walking in the event.

FGCU’s Tri-Delta sorority sported a variety of shirts in various hues. The “tooth fairies” from Gary Shierling dental office wore wings.

Claudia Chica of Party Balloons twisted balloon animals and gave them to the younger marchers. Pat Shelton and John Ammons of Edison National Bank passed out bottled water, and at the Best Buy tent, Geek Squad members competed on a PS3 Move and gave away tickets to win a 32” HDTV.

Angela Dekruis stood at the intersection of Miromar’s walkways, directing traffic, assisted by eight-year-old Marlon Omdhl. “It’s about helping kids that have cancer,” said Marlon, to explain why all the people were walking.

Scott Sica brought his dog Tank, plus a pocketful of dog treats to make friends with other passing pooches. Each walker was given a placard to say what they were thankful for, and Sica’s read “I give thanks for Tank.”

Many of those in the walk had had a family member touched by cancer.

Megan Black, an Edison State College student, voted with her charge card to help the cause. “This is important,” she said. “My mother had cancer.”

Donna Ditmer, selling t-shirts for the cause, said her organization, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, raised over $9 million for St. Jude in the past year.

Southwest Florida walk organizer Carolina Lizarralde said that the local effort raised more than $30,000, up from $23,000 last year’s inaugural event.

“It’s a phenomenal increase, and donations are still coming in,” Lizarralde said. “The community really stepped up and participated. This year’s walk had 150 more participants than last year, she said. Other Florida events were held in Tampa, Palm Beach, and Panama City.

To volunteer or donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, call 800-278-3383, or email carolina.lizarralde@stjude.org.