Smethport’s Hamlin Lake Park will teem with activity Sept. 16 as individuals walk 1.7 miles, enjoy food and music and get their faces painted –– all part of raising money for McKean County’s only pregnancy care center.

Bright Alternatives, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Bradford, will celebrate the Walk for Life’s silver anniversary with the goal of bringing in $10,000. The event kicks off at 10:30 a.m.

“The Walk is so important for us because we do all of our own fundraising and are completely funded by local individuals and churches through events like this and regular monthly giving,” said Kim Crouse, executive director of Bright Alternatives. “Ensuring we are well funded is vital to assisting and educating the 100-plus women/families we serve every year.”

The non-profit organization offers free pregnancy testing, counseling, pregnancy and parenting education and more. Thus far this year, the center has provided 125 packs of diapers, 12 cribs and more than 150 other baby items such as clothing and wipes, Crouse said. She also said that 347 pregnancy/parenting classes have been attended this year.

Every year for the walk, she said, 50 to 100 people turn out and between $8,000 to $15,000 is brought in. The walk was the first fundraiser by Bright Alternatives, and at that time, nearly 200 people attended with as much as $40,000 being raised.

“I would love to see those numbers grow. We were encouraged last year when we held the Walk in Wellsville, where our second center is located, and 60 people showed up in the rain,” she said. “Our supporters are faithful and they believe in the women in our community and want to help provide a safe place for them to go talk, learn, and earn items they need for their families.”

Another Walk for Life event is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. at Island Park at West Dyke Street in Wellsville, N.Y.

For more information about Bright Alternatives, call 368-3388.