Louise Van Poll/Plainsman The Huron Area Senior Center Line Dancers were on hand to perform at the Big Walk/Bike event held in Campbell Park yesterday.

A damp day reduced the numbers, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the walkers and bikers as they and sales of personalized American flags raised about $3,500 to support the Central Prairie Red Cross and its local disaster response and training work in seven counties.

The Saturday Big Walk/Bike fundraiser was a salute to “big military heroes.”

Jessica Hofer of Sioux Falls arrived in Campbell Park in front of the 17 other walkers, completing the 20 miles from Alpena to Huron in about five hours.

“I jogged the last five (miles),” she said. “I just wanted to get there.”

Hofer’s sister, Elizabeth Waldner of Huron, a member of the Red Cross board, had encouraged her to join the event this year. Waldner, who walked about 15 miles, raised $215 to lead all of the others.

“It’s mind-blowing to think I just walked 20 miles,” Hofer said. “It wasn’t hard to keep going at all. It felt great, but I’m going to be sore.”

Two other walkers who were among the top three in fundraising were Kacey Gross, who raised $195 through sponsorships, and Amy Puetz, who raised $120.

To honor military heroes, people donated $10 to have an American flag with an individual’s name on it displayed in the park. More than 136 flags were sold, with the proceeds split between the Red Cross and organizations which set up booths in Campbell Park.

Entertainment included singing, line dancing and a comedy routine, and there were games and treats and an opportunity for people to have their photograph taken on a motorcycle.

Max Chamberlain of Huron was one of the half dozen who hopped on a bike to raise money. But it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride.

On his way to the Woonsocket corner and back, he had two flat tires, one right after the other. His mom, Kim, came to his rescue with a second inner tube, but when it wouldn’t hold air she brought him the bike of his dad, Mark.

“I was about an hour behind everyone else,” Max, 16, said.

While he bikes a lot around Huron, he had never attempted a 40-mile jaunt. He raised $23 for the Red Cross.

One of the more touching stories of the day was the pairing of 13-year-old Nate Tomczak and KSFY-TV sports director Eric Thorstenson.

Nate wanted to walk to honor his own “big military hero,” his brother, Zac, who was killed in Iraq nearly a year ago on Sept. 25, 2007. It would have been Zac’s 25th birthday on Thursday, the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Thorstenson and Nate Tomczak walked and talked for about five to six miles.

“He said it was a really good time,” Nate’s mom, Jackie, said.