Local Teens to Hike Around Perdido Key for Charity
For the fourth year in a row, a group of local kids will circumnavigate the soft sands of Perdido Key…on foot. But trudging 33-miles around the Key is not just a Spring Break fling. These 15-year-olds are on a mission to raise money to buy wheelchairs for disabled children.
The Walk for Wheelchair began in 2008, when best friends, Teal Garth and Chandler Morales, made the trek around the Key in three days. Since then they have enticed more friends to walk with them and
have raised more than $20,000 for Bayside Medical Missions of Fairhope, Alabama. The non-profit organization transports wheelchairs to children in Ecuador who have cerebral palsy and other debilitating diseases.
"These kids spend their entire lives in the back room of the house,” said Dr. Fellers, an orthopedic surgeon, who started the organization. “Now they can get out of the house, go to school, and be a part of society.”
While many kids are focused on Spring Break fun, Teal and Chandler will be circling Perdido Key for the fourth time. The walk begins at the Florida/Alabama state line on the morning of April 25 and ends there the evening of April 27. A celebration will ensue at the Flora-Bama Restaurant & Bar.
This year, the two freshmen at West Florida High School, have enticed a growing group of friends to participate. “Some of them have done the walk before,” Teal said, “but we have a few who are trying it for the first time. It’s hard but I’m sure they can make it.”
“There was a huge rain storm the first night last year,” Chandler said, “and our campsite at Fort McRee got totally flooded. The weather got better the next day and we were able to walk.”
While they have not visited the children in Ecuador, they plan to travel to South America this year to help deliver the chairs themselves. “We were invited to Ecuador,” Teal said, “but we couldn’t go last year. I really want to go this time so we can get to know the kids we’re helping.”
Those interested in donating can email blairgarth@cox.net and a pledge form will be sent back to you. Or call 850-492-6805. All donations are tax deductible.
For more information and a news report from WEAR TV, Google the term “Teal Garth WEAR” or go to www.YouTube.com and search “Walk Around Perdido Key” for some video clips from past years.