The Selma chapter of the Links, Inc. is gearing up for its 20th Walk-A-Thon Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Alexis Hunter Walking Trail at Selma High School from 9-11 a.m.

The Selma chapter of the organization has been around since 1995, and has held the annual walk-a-thon every year since then to promote walking and exercise within the community. But this year, the walk will mean even more to the Queen City.

The grand marshals of this year’s walk will be Joann Hunter, mother of the late Alexis Hunter, and Lois Smith, mother of the late Taffine Berry, according to Links member Nancy Sewell.

Alexis was shot and killed in December 2013 behind Selma High School and Berry was shot and killed in March 2015 outside of a lounge near the intersection of Marie Foster and L.L. Anderson Street.

“This year is a special tribute. We’re honoring … Alexis Hunter and Taffine Berry,” Sewell said.

“We’re trying to pay tribute to them and keep their memory alive.”

Links president Charlotte Griffeth said the annual walk is about encouraging a healthy lifestyle for the people of Dallas County through walking, healthy snacks and even some health checks that will be available.

“It’s very important because Dallas County ranks high in health disparities, not only in the state but in the country,” Griffeth said. “It behooves us to make this 20th year of our walk-a-thon something that we look at not only health, but for youth as well.”

Maria Stevenson-Dale is the chairwoman of the event with co-chair Dorothy J. Brown.

“She has done an excellent job in coordinating this years’ event and honoring those two young ladies,” Griffeth said of Stevenson-Dale.

The money raised from the event will go towards the Links’ projects throughout the community and the country.

“This is our 20th year giving back to the community. The community is our lifeline,” Sewell said. “We invite the city of Selma and Dallas County to come out and join us.”

The Selma High School marching band and cheerleaders will be at the event to help cheer on the participants.

Registration is $10 for adults, $5 for children and $50 for groups and will begin at 8:30 a.m.

“Don’t let that deter you, we want [everyone] to come and walk,” Sewell said.