Sandy Hook Residents Are

Doing Their Part To Save Gulf Animals

By Shannon Hicks

Light rain or shine, Julia Shuman and Liza Tananbaum are hoping that Newtown residents will consider spending just a little bit of time with them on Saturday morning when they host a special fundraising event.

Walk For Wildlife will be presented Saturday, July 17, beginning at 10 am. The walk will begin at and return to the cul-de-sac on Cider Mill Road in Sandy Hook. There will be raffle prizes, and each person who participates will be given one gourmet cupcake created by Liza’s mom, Beth, the owner of Peace, Love and Cupcakes.

Julia and Liza, ages 9 and 10, respectively, will lead a two-mile walk through their neighborhood. In exchange they are hoping participants will consider making a donation, which the girls will then forward to National Wildlife Federation. They are asking for $5 donations, and have already received more than $300 in pledges.

The girls are doing this fundraiser because they are upset by the oil spill that has been happening in the Gulf of Mexico since the explosion on April 20 of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. The spill’s environmental impact was apparent almost immediately in marine and wildlife habitats, and continues to spread. While it has also damaged the region’s fishing and tourism industries, it is the effect on animals that is most disconcerting to Julia and Liza.

“It’s affecting a lot of animals, especially the shrimp industry,” Liza said this week. She and Julia, who are neighbors and friends, were sporting matching Walk For Wildlife T-shirts, and carrying a banner they hope will draw attention to this weekend’s event.

“It’s clouding up the water and making more animals extinct,” said Julia.

The girls have the kind of close friendship that allows them to start and finish each other’s sentences.

“It’s the worst oil spill in history,” said Liza, followed immediately by Julia with, “and it’s not going to go away very easily.”

As has the rest of the country, the girls have been following the news of the spill and its damaging effects for three months. Julia, who just finished fourth grade at Sandy Hook School, said her teacher, Mike Corvello, had talked about the spill with her class. Liza, who attends St Rose School, has been watching news reports and, like Julia, talking with her parents about the disaster.

“We talked about what was happening and I just kept thinking ‘How can I help?’” Julia said. It was about three weeks ago that the girls decided that a walk within nature would be something that could in turn help some of nature’s creatures in the Gulf region.

Their goal was to have 30 people join them, but as of early this week they had already heard from 24 friends and neighbors who have signed up for the walk. They will walk with as many people who want to join them.

“Word got out,” said Liza. “Some people are calling their friends…

“… and they’re calling their friends,” the two pals finished together, giggling.

The Walk For Wildlife will be held if there is light rain. If there is heavy rain, however, call 203-270-7922 for weather decisions.

If you are unable to attend Saturday’s event but would like to make a donation, donations or checks payable to NWF can be mailed to Liza at 14 Cider Mill Road, Sandy Hook CT 06482.