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The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Martin Sutton Park in Ridgely, rain or shine. All proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.

Danny Lockhart of Ridgely founded the walk in 2012, with a goal of raising $7,500, enough to fund one “wish” for a child with a terminal illness or life-threatening injury.

Lockhart met that goal last year. This year, he hopes to double it and raise $15,000, to fund two wishes.

Lockhart was himself a recipient of such a wish. Born with scoliosis, an abnormal curving of the spine, Lockhart underwent surgery to correct it in August 2010. Something went wrong during the surgery, and Lockhart’s neck was dislocated. He missed his entire freshman year at North Caroline High School as he underwent more surgeries to stabilize his neck. Though he permanently lost some of the movement in his neck, physical therapy helped him regain much of it.

For his wish, Lockhart spent a week with his family in Ocean City and met J.J. Roth, a local radio DJ, who has remained friends with Lockhart and has participated in past Danny’s Walk events.

Now a graduate of North Caroline High School, Lockhart is continuing to grow his fundraising event.

The first three years, the walk was held at the high school’s track. This year, it has been moved to Martin Sutton Park, at the corner of state Route 480 and Park Avenue in Ridgely.

“I am a firm believer that the things life throws our way help define a person’s character,” Lockhart said. “Speaking for myself, I know that my character is stronger after going through my life changing experience. I wanted to do more to help other children, so I went to my principal and thus began the first Danny’s Walk.”

The Cheaters will provide live music. Lockhart and lead singer Jason Morton struck up a friendship. The Cheaters are a band with local Maryland roots that has signed a Nashville recording contract.

The Ridgely Volunteer Fire Company will sell food, while the Knights of Columbus will sell funnel cakes. Vendors will sell their wares, as well as donate raffle prizes.

Anyone can sign up to participate in the walk, at , or donate money directly to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic to support Lockhart’s fundraiser, at .

This year, Lockhart went to the commissioners of Ridgely and asked for their support. The commissioners did not hesitate and Commissioner John Buckle organized perhaps the biggest draw this year, a chance to dunk a local elected official. The tentative schedule for the dunk tank is as follows:

• John Buckle, Ridgely commissioner: 10 to 10:20 a.m.
• John Hurley, Ridgely commissioner: 10:20 to 10:40 a.m.
• Anthony Casey, Ridgely commissioner: 10:40 to 11 a.m.
• Kevin Reichert, Greensboro councilmember: 11 to 11:20 a.m.
• Ron Stafford, Hillsboro commissioner: 11:20 to 11:40 a.m.
• Tolbert Rowe, Caroline County Board of Education: 11:40 a.m. to noon
• Dan Franklin, Caroline County commissioner: noon to 12:20 p.m.
• Larry Porter, Caroline County commissioner: 12:20 to 12:40 p.m.
• Wilbur Levengood, Caroline County commissioner: 12:40 to 1 p.m.
• Tara Lightner, Denton councilmember: 1 to 1:20 p.m.
• DJ Simmons, Marydel commissioner: 1:20 to 1:40 p.m.
• Joe Noon, Greenbsoro mayor: 1:40 to 2 p.m.

Participants will get three balls to throw for $2 or, for a $50 donation, be allowed to walk right up and push the button to dunk the elected official.

The festivities will kick off with Jessica Tuel singing the National Anthem.