SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A simple idea to bring people together has become a beloved Pocket-area tradition.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, ACC Senior Services (ACC) will host its fifth annual Ohana Walk, bringing together families, friends, seniors, children, community organizations and supporters for a morning of connection, culture, wellness and community support.

This year’s Ohana Walk will honor founders Lynn and Wayne Kurahara as grand marshals, recognizing the vision and leadership that transformed an idea to unite the ACC ohana into a beloved community celebration. The Ohana Walk was created in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to reconnect the community while marking ACC’s 50th anniversary.

The Kuraharas’ recognition also honors the many volunteers, community partners, donors and supporters who have helped the Ohana Walk grow over the past five years. “They provided tremendous encouragement and support,” Wayne shared.

At ACC, ohana means more than family: It embodies a community that comes together to support one another, the spirit that remains at the heart of this annual event.  

The event continues to grow. Last year, the Ohana Walk attracted 1,000 registered participants of all ages and generations, greatly exceeding the Kuraharas’ expectations when they conceived the idea.

 “When undertaking the project of doing a walk-a-thon event, we did not know what to expect, and our original goal was to get just a few hundred participants,” the Kuraharas said. 

The Ohana Walk is designed to be accessible and welcoming for participants of every generation. Families can walk together, friends can create teams, community organizations can walk as groups, and seniors can enjoy the route at their own pace, while children and grandchildren can make the morning a family adventure.

Participants may choose a one-, two- or three-mile flat and accessible, family-friendly routes along the Greenhaven-Pocket Canal Parkway, with an optional shaded greenbelt extension. Water stations, rest markers and check-in booths are available throughout the course.

The celebration continues after the walk at the ACC campus, where participants can enjoy food, music, entertainment, activities and community booths. Registered walkers will receive a commemorative Ohana Walk T-shirt, wristband (event access) and swag bag.

The event is designed to be as much about being together as it is about walking.

While the event offers a festive day for the community, it also serves an important purpose.  Proceeds benefit ACC Senior Services and support programs and services for older adults and their caregivers.

For more than 53 years, ACC has provided senior living options, caregiver support and community-based services intended to help older adults remain active, connected and supported at any stage.

Every mile walked and every dollar raised helps to advance that mission while demonstrating the community’s commitment to caring for older adults. It also reflects something that has been part of ACC’s identity for more than five decades: the belief that strong communities are built when generations and cultures come together to help one another.

The fifth annual ACC Ohana Walk takes place Saturday, Sept. 19, beginning at the ACC campus at 7334 Park City Drive in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood. 

The walk begins at 8:30 a.m. and will be followed by a community picnic.

Registration includes participation in the walk, picnic meal, an event T-shirt and swag bag. All proceeds benefit ACC Senior Services programs and services. Donate, learn more or register today at accsv.org/ohana.