Joining together to raise funds and awareness, participants will gather at Escalon’s Main Street Park on Saturday morning for the annual Tourette’s Awareness Walk.

The May 27 event is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start and covers a total of a 5k course, laid out through the community, with participants typically walking as opposed to running the route.

There are no sign-ups and no pre-registration is needed. The walk is also free and includes some fun activities for kids, including a scavenger hunt along the route.

The family-focused event is being coordinated by Amy McCulloch and Escalon High School teacher and coach Rick Heflin.

The walk is designed to heighten community awareness about Tourette’s Syndrome. McCulloch said her son Keegan, a sixth grader at El Portal, has Tourette’s and traditionally addresses the walkers taking part in the event.

“For the kids, we have a scavenger hunt … they just walk along, collect trinkets and goodies,” McCulloch said.

Informational material is also provided to all participants and there are a few vendors on hand. Participants last year took chances on a signed Sergio Romo baseball and in all, the event raised several hundred dollars, which was used to establish a scholarship for a graduating EHS student, with the recipient to be announced at the Saturday event.

About 300 walkers turned out last year and McCulloch said organizers are hoping to get about the same participation this year, with a forecast for sunny skies and seasonable temperatures.

For more information, contact McCulloch at amcculloch@sjcoe.net or Rick Heflin at rheflin@sjcoe.net.