Walking for their health

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June 18, 2009

By ANDY GOODELL

OSKALOOSA — She wants locals to take a few steps for the children.

Linda Boese of Oskaloosa, along with fellow registered nurse Becky Thompson, are organizing a fund-raiser walk to benefit orphans in Honduras.

Boese said she and Thompson where inspired to organize the walk after visiting the Central American country this past July. The two helped distribute bare essentials like rice and beans to needy Hondurans. She said seeing the rampant poverty, starvation and large orphan population in the city of Comayagua made them want to take action.

“In a small way, anyone can help,” said Boese. “God seemed to put in our hearts that this is the spot to be a blessing to others.”

Boese said she and Thompson came up with the idea for a fund-raiser walk over coffee at Smokey Row. She said being a nurse made her really want to strive for a medical clinic in Honduras.

“We both attend local churches, but our hearts have been to help this ministry because they feed children,” she said.

Boese and Thompson’s fund-raiser event, slated for late September, isn’t the only effort being made for a medical clinic in Comayagua. Their walk is part of Impact Ministries International, which has already recently established two orphanages in the Honduran city.

IMI works in several countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, Peru and parts of Africa, and they’ve already raised $5,000 for the clearing of land and footings for the medical clinic, which is located near the two orphanages.

“Their heart is for children,” said Boese.

Boese said children in need are abundant in Comayagua, Honduras, a city of 60,000 in the heart of the country. She said many of the approximately 3,000 orphans in that city alone are abused and sometimes sold into sexual slavery. She added, a clinic will help make sure the children are given basic immunizations and other medical care Americans sometimes take for granted.

“We are so blessed in this country,” said Boese.

Speaking of being blessed, IMI doesn’t just provide children all over the world with food and medical attention. There is a spiritual element involved, as well.

“They try to bring the kids to Christ,” Boese said. “It is meeting all their needs.”

Although still in its infancy, the fund-raiser walk for the Honduras medical clinic will begin at the trail head on 11th Avenue West, cross Highway 92 to the north and turnaround and walk back to Edmundson Park once walkers reach the bike shop.

Boese expects 35 to 50 walkers to participate from Oskaloosa and surrounding communities.

“Everybody coming together can make a difference,” said Boese.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com

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