By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The two-mile Walk for Life in Houlton beat last year’s total by well over a thousand dollars when some 55 volunteers pulled in $5,719 with more donations expected to come in for support of the Pregnancy Care Center.
Last week’s event kicked off with games and face painting before the walk started with a police escort leaving the Career Enhancement Center working its way through town, and eventually returning to the starting point after going over the Gateway Crossing.
Sue Mitchell, a Houlton volunteer, registers Evelyn Delong of Littleton and daughter Katrina of Houlton.
Top winners for fund-raising were: in the ages 6-10 category – Wesley Ganglfinger who won a Nintendo DS for raising $460; ages 11-14, Aaron Sewell who won a portable DVD player by raising $280. In the 15-18 age category, Allegra Smith won a $100.00 Walmart gift card by raising $160. The adult raising the most money was Kathy Ledger. She raised $1,860 and received a $100 check.
Prizes were donated to support the walk. Houlton Farms Dairy donated ice cream for participants to make sundaes after the race. 
The Wentz family of Monticello was out in full force to support the walk. From left, Ryan Wentz, Kayla, Hannah, Mary and Daniel.
Christie Corey, executive director of the Pregnancy Care Center in Presque Isle and Houlton said all services of the program are free and operate with support from volunteers, churches and community residents and programs.
“It’s a fund-raiser but there are a couple of goals: to raise community awareness to help ladies in the community and maybe get a board member, volunteers and community connections.” 
Dot Khan of Military Street Baptist Church exhibited her face-painting skills on Madeline Patterson and sister Evangeline. Their mother, Emilie, said she volunteers at the center “because it’s hard enough to be a mother in the best of circumstances and it’s good to provide a safe, place when women need the most help.”
Eleven churches were represented. Julie Chapla of Amity said “I believe in what they are doing to counsel women who are pregnant. I am walking to help raise money.” Chapla and several friends were sponsored by a donation from the Aroostook Church of Christ.
Sharon and Robert Ganglfinger of Littleton really meant it when they said it was a worthy cause since they celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary at the walk. Son Wesley was top fund-raiser in his age category.
Dorila Spooner of Houlton, was a sponsored walker, who said she first learned of the program when her daughter got married and went through the program. Spooner’s 10-month-old granddaughter, in the stroller, happily went along for the ride.
