WILLAMETTE VALLEY REGION, Ore. - With 58 teams and nearly 625 participants, this weekend’s Willamette Valley Relay, presented by McDonald’s, promises to be the largest ever first-time walking event of its kind.

Starting Friday, hundreds of walkers will take to the road for the two-day relay walk, traveling through the core of the Willamette Valley on a 140 mile trek.

What local communities can expect

The Willamette Valley route includes five parks, five counties and nine Oregon towns. In teams of 8 – 12 relay walkers, participants will begin at Champoeg State Park near St. Paul and travel to Alton Baker Park in Eugene, using back roads to explore some of the most beautiful areas in the Willamette Valley. Walkers will travel through Marion, Polk, Linn, Benton and Lane counties and Oregon towns including St. Paul, Brooks, Turner, Independence, Monmouth, Albany, Harrisburg, Junction City and Eugene.

Communities on route can expect walkers to stream through their towns over the course of two days. In total, with volunteers, spectators and participants, event organizers anticipate about 2,000 – 2,500 people to be involved with the Willamette Valley Relay. The journey ends in Eugene, where a major finish line celebration will be held. (Please see enclosed fact sheet for more details).

“Many of the communities are really excited about this event,” said Judy Heller, Willamette Valley Relay organizer and president of Wonders of Walking, LLC. “This is an opportunity to highlight some beautiful places in Oregon, as well as bring hundreds of participants and visitors through the different towns and communities. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and support locally for this event.”

A journey that begins with one step

Certainly, the Willamette Valley Relay is a landmark event not only as a relay designed exclusively for walkers, by walkers, but for its ability to attract hundreds of participants for a first time event. According to Heller, that is due to an incredible route that travels right through the heart of the Willamette Valley, as well as a huge interest in walking.

Participants and their personal motivation for walking the Willamette Valley Relay are as diverse and varied as the course itself. The Willamette Valley Relay has attracted participants from all over the state – men and women alike. The 58 individual teams include groups of friends, family, church and healthy lifestyle organizations and more. Motivation includes an opportunity to compete, a chance to share a new experience, the desire to explore a beautiful part of the state, an interest in maintaining fitness and the challenge of reaching a personal goal.

Heller says that teams include one family who is coming together from throughout the country to participate in the event as a unique type of “family reunion.” For others, the event represents the opportunity to overcome significant challenges and meet a personal goal. One participant is a recovering paraplegic and who has been working towards participating in this event for months as a major personal milestone.

For Heller, who is considered one of the foremost experts in the walking community of the Northwest and has organized a number of walking events, the Willamette Valley Relay represents a dream come true. The Willamette Valley Relay is the kick-off event for Wonders of Walking, an organization Heller founded to create events solely for walkers, designed by walkers. Heller also is planning two additional walking events in Oregon this fall, including “Sisters Stride into Autumn,” Sept. 26 in Sisters, and the “Pumpkin Caper,” Oct. 31 in Beaverton.

Wonders of Walking, LLC, advocates walking for well-being and pleasure, and plans to spearhead a series of walking events throughout the nation. For more information and details, log onto www.wondersofwalking.com.

Willamette Valley Relay Fact Sheet

Dates: Willamette Valley Relay, presented by McDonald’s, is Friday, July 16 – Saturday, July 17

Time & Distance: Teams will begin early at Champoeg Park at 4 a.m. on Friday and are expected to arrive the Alton Baker Park finish line in Eugene, anywhere from 8 or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday. Total time for teams to complete the Willamette Valley Relay course is estimated between 23 – 37 hours.

Route: Oregon towns including St. Paul, Brooks, Turner, Independence, Monmouth, Albany, Harrisburg, Junction City and Eugene. Counties include Marion, Polk, Linn, Benton and Lane. Along the way, participants will take part in games, such as trivia contests about the area, a walking version of poker and many other fun activities. The finish line party at Alton Baker Park will include food, music, entertainment, prizes as well as a beer and wine garden.

Teams: 58 teams of 8 – 12 participants will travel in vans. Each individual team member will walk three sections of the course, which average 4 to 8 miles in length. Teams range from competitive walkers to recreational walkers.

Volunteers: Nearly 200 volunteers will help support staging areas and providing directional information

Traffic & Safety: Vans will have signs notifying those passing by that there are “walkers on the road” and signage is planned along the route. Nighttime walkers will have glow sticks, are informed of safety rule and mostly will be traveling on the left hand side of the roadways, unless instructed otherwise by local authorities. There will be no road closures or traffic diversions, although motorists are encouraged to slow down and proceed with caution while traveling along the course.

Community Impact: The Willamette Valley Relay will highlight individual communities along course and the event provides unique fundraising opportunities.

Rest stops: There are rest stops along route, thanks to the support and involvement of participating parks, restaurants, sponsors, churches, granges and individual property owners.

Benefits: A percentage of profits raised from the Willamette Valley Relay will benefit Legacy Comprehensive Stroke Program and Oregon Stroke Center based at Oregon Health and Sciences University, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and SW Washington.

Sponsors: McDonald’s, Dasani, Dr Pepper, Foot Traffic, New Balance, The Step Beyond Walking and Running LLC, NW Foot & Ankle Clinic, EroFit & Associates LLC, and Idea Advocate, LLC.