The Lake County Florida Amateur Radio Emergency Service provided seventeen ham radio operators on April 23, 2011, to provide radio communications in support of the March of Dimes’ “ March For Babies” in Tavares Florida.

        The Lake County ARES group set up a tent fly on the grounds of Wooton Park’s scenic waterfront in downtown Tavares to shelter their net control station N4FLA . This station operated on 2 meters with a J-Pole antenna mounted on a 20 foot pole beside the tent and used battery power.

    From here they stayed in touch with the fourteen rest stops that provided water, fruit, cookies and small gifts for the children who took part in the walkathon. Each rest stop was manned by a ham radio operator who maintained radio contact with net control to report on the movement of foot traffic through the check points as well as requesting needed supplies of water and ice. LCARES also provided a van with a mobile radio to patrol the 7 mile course which was available to transport anyone who couldn't complete it back to the finish line.

    The rest stops were sponsored by local businesses from the Tavares area such as banks, restaurants, retail stores and the Lake Sumter EMS.

    .One of these rest stops was manned by eight year old Makaila Williams-KK4BFK and her father from Deltona, FL. Mikaila , as a Technician, has been checking into out nightly 2 meter traffic net to learn about traffic handling and she wanted to take part in the March for Babies. With guidance from her father, Ron-AJ4YK, she did a good job transmitting and receiving radio traffic at her rest stop . Ron told us that the day before this event Mikaila had passed her General Class exam. Her goal is to become an Extra Class operator by her 9th birthday. That occurs in June of this year.

    The March of Dimes walkathon in Tavares is an annual event that raises money for medical research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives. This year there were approximately 550 walkers and there was plenty of Florida sunshine with moderate temperatures .

    The Lake County ARES group always enjoys the opportunity to provide radio communications for the March of Dimes Walkathon. This also provides a chance to further train members in communications skills and setting up radio equipment for emergency use.

    You may find out more about amateur radio and ARES in Lake County, Florida by going to the following web sites. www.k4fc.org or www.n4fla.org

Mikaila Williams -KK4BFK passed her General Class License exam the                     day before this event. She became a Technician on March 19 19,2011	Mikaila Williams-KK4BFK and her dad Ron-AJ4YK from Deltona, FL.                         Eight year old Mikaila manned one of the rest stops during the walkathon.	Steve Flynn-WA2ENT helped set up the net control station then manned a rest stop.
( L to R ) Jay Boehme-N4KXO was the net control operator and John Walton-WB4HV was the event director for LCARES	When the wind came up off Lake Dora the tent fly became a kite and                               some fast shuffling was needed to weight it down.