Zombies invade at annual walk

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Lynchburg’s third annual Zombie Walk benefits the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and the Lynchburg Dog Park

When October arrives with its crisp air and changing leaves in colors of orange and deep reds, many fall activities begin.

People of all ages were invited to participate in the third annual Zombie Walk in downtown Lynchburg Saturday, Oct. 26.

According to Patrick Hubble, founder and organizer of the walk, the purpose of the event is to collect canned food and other nonperishables for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and cash donations for the Lynchburg Dog Park.

Individuals who participated in the walk dressed up with face paint, a vast array of costumes and wigs in order to give spectators a great show.

“It took me a week to get everything together for the walk,” Liberty sophomore Zachary Dale said. “The looks I got on the way off of Liberty’s campus were priceless.”

The walk began in downtown Lynchburg at the community market where various photographers captured the zombie walkers in action.

“The idea for the Zombie Walk is not original to me,” Hubble said. “Many large metropolitan cities have had annual zombie walks to raise money for various charitable causes.”
According to Hubble, there were 425 people registered for the event on Facebook, the majority being in their late teens and early twenties.

“At the heart of the Zombie Walk is its canned food drive to help local families in need. It plays on the irony that zombies are always hungry,” Hubble said. “The participants have been very generous, and so far, from the two previous years, we have donated more than 1,200 pounds of food for the local bank and about $250 cash last year was given to the local dog park.”

Stephanie Austin, a participant in the walk, enjoyed dressing up with various people in the community helping a great cause.

“I have done this every year they have had it, and I have had a blast,” Austin said. “The whole zombie thing really fascinates me, and to dress up with a bunch of people who have the same hobbies as you is a neat way to bring people together.”

Austin’s best friend, Sarah Hamlet, has also been participating in the walk since its inception in 2011.

“I really enjoy doing this because I love having the opportunity to have fun with friends,” Hamlet said. “And to do it for a good cause like donating food to feed the hungry people in our city makes it even better.”

According to the Zombie Walk’s Facebook page, the Lynchburg Dog Park received $240 in cash donations and Hubble delivered the canned food to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Monday, Oct. 28.

“I hope participants will always have a lot of fun while also being charitable,” Hubble said. “This is definitely Lynchburg’s most unique food drive with a twist.”