Walking while wet to fight Williams Syndrome

It was still sunny out when walkers took off on their trek north of Havre's 3rd Avenue.

The walkers were trying to raise funds and raise awareness about Williams Syndrome. They started out at Town Square. The sky to the north and west was threatening, and the walkers knew they stood a chance of getting drenched, but they walked in good spirits.

At the start of the parade was Keeley Wilson, the 17-year-old who has Williams Syndrome and is the inspiration for the walkers. She rode her bicycle beside her father, Stew Wilson, and her dog, Roxy.

Just a couple of blocks up 3rd Avenue, their luck ran out. The rain started at a pretty good clip.

The walkers' clothes were dampened, but not their spirits.

There was laughter in in the crowd as it moved forward. Back at Town Square, people awaited the arrival of the walkers, who were to make a square, going south on 3rd Avenue, across to 5th Avenue, north to 1st Street and back to Town Square.

The crowd that stayed behind during the walk - old people unable to make the walk or the folks who were preparing the post-walk barbecue - stopped what they were doing, stood up and cheered.

The walkers were greeted like heroes, especially the leader of the walkers, Keeley Wilson.

When participants were asked why they came out for the walk, each responded the same way .

"Keeley," they all said.

"I'm supporting a good cause I didn't know existed four years ago," said Rita Ulrich. She said she got to know Keeley through her mother, Dottie. The two are great people, she said, and she couldn't help but join in the effort.

Raising money is important, she said, but just as important is letting people know what Williams Syndrome is about.

Having people march makes the effort against Williams Syndrome more public, she said.

The event is important to her, she said, because last year he husband, the Rev. John Ulrich, then pastor of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, gave the invocation before the barbecue. He died two months later.

Sitting with her was Jeri Gerard, who works next to Dottie Wilson at Grateful Bread in the Atrium. She has gotten to know Keeley, who visits the store frequently.

"I had to come to support them," she said.