This year's Literacy Network Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, October 7. It will begin at the intersection of State and Gorham Streets at 10:30 a.m. People may show their support of literacy by signing up on-line at www.litnetwork.org. Participants are encouraged to develop teams and collect pledges to help support literacy efforts in Dane County.

The Canterbury Run/Walk began in 1992 by Canterbury Booksellers & Inn founders Harvey and Trudy Barash. "It was a way to highlight literacy efforts in our community while also publicizing the bookstore." Trudy Barash states, "Now it goes on as our legacy to the community."

Over the fifteen years, the Run/Walk has grown to be a tradition in Madison. Each year 1,500 people don the most recognized event shirt in town and stride down State Street together. Over the years, the Run/Walk has raised almost half a million dollars to support literacy efforts.

"This event has meant that over 1,700 learners have reached functional literacy goals such as being able to fill out a job application, read to their children, or write a note to a loved one." explains Literacy Network Executive Director, Gregory Markle. He continues, "Our goal is to maintain what has been special about the event, while expanding it to help more people in the future."

The decision to change the Run/Walk's name was not made lightly. Previous participants in the run/walk were polled and over 90% felt a name change would be fine as long as the focus on literacy remained. In late 2006, the Madison Area Literacy Council changed its name to Literacy Network. In April the Literacy Network board voted to rename the Run/Walk name to the Literacy Network name and to put literacy first in the title.

"I am proud to be part of the progression of this event," states Dr. Barash, "I am glad they are keeping the shirt design and the downtown location while linking it more directly with the Literacy Network name. Trudy and I are still working on making a quilt that includes every shirt from year one."