By KATY HERSHBERGER
Sunday's walkathon at the University of Mary Washington drew more than 700 walkers and raised $120,000 for Copprome, an orphanage in Honduras.
"I felt overwhelmed by the response," said UMW senior Shin Fujiyama, who coordinated the event to save the orphanage in the Central American nation from closure.
"Hundreds of people came together to help out. They could have been doing other things like watching TV or going on Myspace [a popular Web site]," he said. "But instead they decided to come out and support 70 orphans who most of them will never see in person. We have a truly amazing community."
The proceeds include a challenge grant of up to $100,000 from the Sunshine Lady Foundation, which tripled what the walkathon raised.
These funds will pay off the orphanage's land debts and will expand the building to help eliminate crowding.
Students, professors and Fredericksburg-area residents comprised most of the 700 walkers, who sought sponsors to make donations. Others traveled from the College of William & Mary and as far away as St. Louis for the event.
Some area churches and UMW groups such as the Campus Christian Community and the Human Rights Club have rallied around Fujiyama and his nonprofit organization, Students Helping Honduras.
SHH will continue to plan fundraisers to aid the orphanage.
"We have a three-year plan to get Copprome back on its feet and turn it into a self-sustainable institution," he said. "We hope to organize a second annual walkathon next year due to an overwhelming request by the participants."
Money is still coming in from the walkathon, Fujiyama said. The deadline for donations is May 7.
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