Last modified: Monday, May 21, 2007 12:06 AM EDT Sally White, left, mother of Susan Blair, reaches to hug Tim Vernon, of Mansfield, who helped organize the Third Annual Susan L. Blair Walk and Rainbow Kids Day Sunday in North Attleboro. (Staff photo by Mike George) Walking to remember By Meredith Tibbetts For The Sun Chronicle NORTH ATTLEBORO - Rain on Sunday afternoon at the Third Annual Susan L. Blair Walk and Rainbow Kids Day could not dampen the spirits of the participants at North Attleboro High and Middle Schools. The memorial held in honor of Susan Blair, a victim of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, drew a crowd of over 250 people. Tim Vernon, member relations specialist at the YMCA, gave a resounding "God Bless America" and introduced State Representatives Elizabeth Poirier and Jay Barrows to kick off the event. Poirier, in a brief speech, said, "Susan had a passion of teaching students with disabilities." Vernon also introduced Blair's mother, Sally White, who spoke about her daughter, telling the audience a story or two about the fun-loving, beautiful and funny woman Blair was. She also related that Blair, who was 35 when she died on Sept. 11, was a Special Olympics hugger, which is a person who gives hugs out to every single Olympian as they get to the end of the track. With Blair's interest in helping people with disabilities, it seemed only natural to White, a Hockomock Area YMCA staff member, to start this memorial walk with all the proceeds benefiting the Hockomock Area YMCA's Integration Initiative, a program that helps children with special needs to interact with their developing peers. Volunteers that helped around the event came from all over and included teen leaders and staff from the YMCA, friends of Blair's, and parents of children with disabilities. Some of the smaller events were held inside the middle school's gym, including the many donated raffle prizes, moonwalk, face painting, food, and even a rabbit for people to pet. Outside, there was mini-train ride, which went around the walkers on the track and Garlick Farms provided free samples of their products. Soon after the speeches from Poirier, Barrows, who spoke about Integration Initiative, and White, a memorial walk was held outside around the track. At the end of the walk, customized rainbow medals were given out. Offering high fives to people who joined the memorial walk around the track was Paws, the mascot for Pawtucket Red Sox, as was McGruff The Crime Dog and several princesses. White raised over $17,000 to benefit the Integration Initiative from letters, donations, and the fundraiser on Sunday.