Walk benefits hearing-loss group

The public is invited to a "Walk 4 Hearing" event Saturday at the Savannah Rapids.

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The fundraising walk, put on by the Hearing Loss Association of Augusta, begins at 10 a.m. The 5K walk will follow the tow path along the Augusta Canal from the Savannah Rapids Dance Pavilion, said Dave Welter, the association's president.

Welter said the public is welcome to join the 22 walking teams for a $10 donation. The nearly 100 walking team members have collected donations, and association members have solicited business sponsorships.

All proceeds from the walk fund area projects including outreach literature, scholarships for national conventions, summer camps for children with hearing loss and an Outreach Strategy Planning Conference.

Welter said awareness among those with hearing loss is the biggest issue the association faces.

About 55,000 people in the area suffer from hearing loss.

"The serious group of people that we need to contact is about 30,000 of that 55,000, who are totally clueless about what to do about hearing loss," Welter said. "These are the people that really need to know that you don't have to drop out of the communication loop. You don't have to stop going to church because you can't hear the sermon."

Funds raised could send people to national conferences and to hold area educational programs, where they'll hear from experts about everything from coping skills to the latest technology, including cochlear implants.

Welter said he's hoping to send more association members to an Outreach Strategy Planning Conference to train association leadership and to conference with more church leadership about having assisted hearing devices in their sanctuaries.

The "Walk 4 Hearing" begins at 10 a.m. Welter said walk-up participants can walk for free or for a $10 donation. For more information, call Welter at (706) 738-2796.