Rockville Centre Lions Club’s Walking Rally on April 13 to benefit Mr. B’s Playground

A fundraiser organized by the Rockville Centre Lion Club will take participants on a hunt around the village on April 13 in search of answers to a series of clues for a cash prize. The first ever Walking Rally will benefit Mr. B’s Playground, a space for children of all abilities expected to be built adjacent to the John A. Anderson Recreation Center in the next year.

The Lions Club, with help from the Tommy Brull Foundation and private donors, has raised nearly $400,000 to date for the playground, which is expected to cost about $1 million. The community is awaiting a $500,000 state grant for the park before breaking ground, as well as a $75,000 grant from the International Lions Club once it’s ready to build.

Most recently, she said, the group raised about $7,000 at its Laughing with the Lions fundraiser at Molloy College last month, and the Tommy Brull Foundation donated roughly $25,000 to the project after hosting a benefit concert on March 11 at R.J. Daniels featuring alternative rock band Taking Back Sunday.

“[It’s been] so long, but we keep on plugging along, we’re doing fundraisers non-stop, and the community has been very, very supportive,” said Maureen Jordan, treasurer of the Lions Club.

Michelle Sewell, who organized the event, said she has experience organizing “road rallies,” or scavenger hunts by car, for other organizations she has been involved with. Because Rockville Centre is walkable, teams of two, three or four people will be given a map with clues, leading them to public and private places in the village.

Once they reach destinations along the way by foot, participants may be asked to collect information, take a picture of something or navigate an obstacle. The rally is geared toward people of all ages.

“It’s just a different way of fundraising,” Sewell said. “…Especially since in Rockville Centre, there are so many hidden treasures and historical things and fun facts and activities to do here.”

Jordan said the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce was supportive of the event, and several merchants are involved. Though she won’t be participating on April 13, she did a trial run of the course. “I read the clues too fast and missed a few answers because I wasn’t reading it all the way,” she said, chuckling, “so it’s fun and challenging.”

Robin Webb, a Lions Club member that helped secure sponsors and raffle prizes from local businesses, said the event is a great way for the community to have fun and get to know the Lions Club, and its mission of helping those in need in the village.

“I’m just hoping everybody has a good time and it brings awareness to the park we’re trying to build,” Webb said.

The event will start at Hickey Field on Sunrise Highway at 10 a.m. At the last location, there will be refreshments, raffles, prizes and a cash bar. A cash prize of up to $400 will be granted to the winning team. It is $30 for adults and $20 for children.

For more information, contact RVCLions@aol.com, or call (516) 395-3024.