VIRGINIA BEACH (WVEC) -- The annual "JT Walk" took place Sunday at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and was a big success.
While the threat of hurricane Joaquin a couple weeks ago prompted a rescheduling of the activities, it didn't stop the funds from pouring in for the walk's special primary beneficiary, Camp Grom. With a $1 million donation from Gold Key | PHR Hotels and Resorts and Diamond Resorts International, Camp Grom is close to meeting the $15 million goal needed to build the camp and begin operating in 2016.
"The individual walkers, the dollars that came in were over $400,000 and that brought sponsor money in close to $14 million. We're just a little bit shy of the $15 million to open Camp Grom this time next year for our veterans and kids and adults with disabilities," said Bruce Thompson.
Governor Terry MacAuliffe walked last year and turned out this year to speak at a breakfast.
"My next door neighbor growing up had ALS and died of ALS," said MacAuliffe. "I met several individuals in here, young families where their father has ALS. We've got to do something about it. We're making tremendous progress," he said.
Bruce Thompson let the crowd know how his son JT is doing: "Josh is doing fine and he is inspired every year by this event; inspired by his children here, and inspired by the fact that people have not forgotten him and they're committed to the JT Walk and doing the things that he conceives as being great for our community," said Thompson.
