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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Obstacles either weigh us down or challenge us to rise above.</p><p>That message was proclaimed loud and proud over Public Square on Sunday afternoon, as hundreds gathered for the eighth annual Ruth&#8217;s Place Walk for Hope.</p><p>The Walk-a-Thon &#8211; a 2-mile trek beginning at Public Square &#8211; took participants on a route filled with important venues in the communitythat help victims of violence, homelessness and other struggles including the Salvation Army, Victims Resource Center and the Luzerne County Courthouse. The event itself, going eight years strong, actually was born out of an idea a former guest of the shelter had.</p><p>&#8220;We are very pleased with the turnout,&#8221; Bill Bolan, chairman of the Ruth&#8217;s Place Advisory Board, said before the walk. &#8220;We are expecting 400 to 500 walkers to participate today, and that&#8217;s fantastic.&#8221;</p><p>The walk has no fee to participate, however all donations and sponsorships directly fund the Ruth&#8217;s Place women&#8217;s shelter.</p><p>&#8220;We are a 21-bed operation &#8211; 25 during extreme temperatures and weather emergencies &#8211; and provide over 5,000 nights of lodging each year for the women of this area,&#8221; added Bolan.</p><p>The crowd was palpably excited &#8211; both for the walk as well as the beautiful, sunny weather. DJ Mike provided entertainment for the walkers to get &#8220;pumped up&#8221; and in the spirit, as well as impromptu dance parties featuring local mascots such as Tux (from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins), Champ (from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders) and Chuck E. Cheese.</p><p>The event also featured over 10 local sponsors from within the community, and included arts and crafts tables for children, a food vendor tent and a bake sale.</p><p>&#8220;This is such an important event for us a Ruth&#8217;s Place,&#8221; said Serena Kozokis, a resident advisor at Ruth&#8217;s Place. &#8220;The funding we raise here at the walk carries us through the entire year and provides women in need with a warm, safe place to rest.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We simply could not be more thankful for the community support,&#8221; she added.</p><p>The Walk also had lots of support from the local colleges as well. Teams from Wilkes University, King&#8217;s College, Misericordia University and Luzerne County Community College all came out to help promote hope for overcoming homelessness to the greater community.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been here at the walk every year,&#8221; said Mary Sullivan, director of student activities and athletics at LCCC. &#8220;We are Team Trailblazer &#8211; we have not only students, but families, staff, faculty and more.&#8221;</p><p>Even LCCC&#8217;s President was on hand for the event.</p><p>&#8220;Every year, our team grows,&#8221; said Tom Leary. &#8220;Students and the entire LCCC community come out to support an extremely important cause. We are a multi-generational school and have students from all walks of life and support our local community in any way we can.&#8221;</p><p>As the crowd geared up to walk, the event founders had speakers, including some current residents of the women&#8217;s shelter, address the crowd to drive the message home.</p><p>&#8220;Each day women rise above with grace and determination,&#8221; said one shelter resident who preferred to remain anonymous. &#8220;Let&#8217;s change perceptions and bring hope to the women of Ruth&#8217;s Place and the women of Luzerne County!&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bonnie Gruver, a current resident of Ruth&#8217;s Place shlter for homeless women in Wilkes-Barre, speaks before the start of the annual Walk for Hope on Sunday on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ruths_place1_faa_toned1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bonnie Gruver, a current resident of Ruth&#8217;s Place shlter for homeless women in Wilkes-Barre, speaks before the start of the annual Walk for Hope on Sunday on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ruths_place3_faa_toned1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Balloon Artist TJ Belt, of Jubilee Balloons, twists some balloon hats and figures for the those participating in Ruth&#8217;s Place Walk for Hope on Sunday in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ruths_place3_faa_toned1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Balloon Artist TJ Belt, of Jubilee Balloons, twists some balloon hats and figures for the those participating in Ruth&#8217;s Place Walk for Hope on Sunday in Wilkes-Barre. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ruths_place2_faa_toned1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Some of the hundreds of people (and pets) who took part in Ruth&#8217;s Place Walk For Hope on Sunday make their way along Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ruths_place2_faa_toned1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Some of the hundreds of people (and pets) who took part in Ruth&#8217;s Place Walk For Hope on Sunday make their way along Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Rachel Holly</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ruth’s Place Walk for Hope puts focus on women’s homelessness, overcoming challenges