Diabetes prevention purpose of walk

Stickball players representing teams from 28 different communities took to the roads around the Choctaw Indian Reservation last Saturday morning for a Unity Walk to raise awareness about diabetes and to promote living a healthy lifestyle.

The annual Unity Walk is sponsored by the Choctaw Health Center’s Diabetes Prevention Program.

The stickball teams were greeted by family, fans and members of their communities who cheered them on as they gathered Saturday morning to walk from the Choctaw Central baseball fields as a group to the amphitheater on Church Road off of Highway 16 by the Pearl River Community Center for the Unity Walk. 

The stickball players typically wear jerseys representing their team's colors. This year, however, everyone wore white T-shirts to celebrate coming back together after COVID-19.

The walk included a program held at the amphitheater with speeches from Chief Cyrus Ben, Princess Elisah Jimmie, Interim Health Director Mary Harrison and Stickball Director Thomas Ben.

The Unity Walk also serves to bring the different teams together to walk for the kickoff of the world series stickball tournament that will begin with a ceremony on July 7 and culminate with the championship on July 17 during the annual Choctaw Indian Fair.

"Everyone looks forward to it every year. It's a team pride thing," said Darlene Willis, Diabetes Prevention Program Coordinator of the Unity Walk.