If you are driving down Annie Glidden Road this Saturday morning and notice 50 or more wheelchairs moving alongside of you, then RAMP has done its job.

The second-annual DeKalb County Wheel-A-Thon begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, sponsored by the Regional Access and Mobilization Project.

The day’s festivities start at 1022 W. Lincoln Highway, which is the parking lot at Annie Glidden Road and Lincoln Highway.

From there, people with and without disabilities will use wheelchairs to navigate a nearly two-mile route through NIU’s campus.

“People see 50 wheelchairs going down the road and it definitely creates a unique presence in the community,” RAMP services manager Melissa Yerk said.

RAMP, an Illinois-based organization that assists the disabled, hopes to make a statement. Last year, more than 40 people participated and about $7,000 was raised. This year, the stakes are even higher.

“We set the goal at $15,000,” she said. “The first and foremost purpose of this event is to create awareness. Not only for RAMP and our services, but to also create awareness of people with disabilities and they issues they deal with.”

About 100 people are expected to participate this year.

“I think it says a lot about the people who sign up,” Yerk said. “[It says] that they are community members and that they recognize us as a community agency.”

RAMP development assistant Debbie Rogers said goals are high for this young event.

“My hopes are we have a successful event,” she said. “Success means good weather, great participation and having a great time. I hope people make friends and want to come back next year.”

Katie Scordato, a junior early childhood development major, participated in last year’s event and will be there on Saturday.

“It was wonderful because you felt like you were being invited into the disabled culture,” she said. “That you could be in the heart of a person who lives a very different lifestyle than yours is a great experience.”

The Wheel-A-Thon is followed by a picnic lunch, and prizes are given to those who raise certain amounts of money.

“We try to make our events enjoyable,” Rogers said. “People have other things they could be doing, so we try and give everybody a great time.”

The two-mile trek is no picnic, however.

“It really is difficult,” Scordato said. “You wouldn’t think it would be, but it really is.”

Those interested in participating or learning more about RAMP can call 756-3202.