CEDAR RIVER — Creator, organizer and CEO of Sportsmen With Heart Inc., Jim Phillips, talks about the nonprofit organization he created after living the ordeal of a parent with a child having a brain tumor.

Jim’s main goal is to restore childhoods that were robbed from disabilities, sickness, disease, and/or poverty. He says for the kids that he meets, “Every day is Christmas.”

So, Jim takes every opportunity to dress the part, and just came off participating in Silver Cliffs parade. Now partnering with the Cedar River BridgeWalk for fundraising, Jim’s eyes lit up when he learned the bridge walk in Cedar River is a short parade.

Always improving his Santa display, the long-bearded Phillips will be riding his Santa float in the parade.

The Cedar River BridgeWalk is today and will begin with music at 10 a.m. CDT, at the Cedarville Township Hall on the North side of Cedar River on Old Mill Lane and across from the marina at the Cedarville Township Hall and Volunteer Fire Department.

Opening ceremonies for the BridgeWalk will start at 11 a.m. CDT, with the walk beginning shortly after.

Bridge walkers will find festivities and various vendors on the south side of the Cedar River Bridge at Halfway Bar & Grill, aka Cedar River Pub.

A newly formed band The Da knocks will continue music at about 11 and will be followed by Boiler Plate in the backyard of the Halfway and with Charlie Scoggins inside the Halfway Bar & Grill.

Bucket and 50/50 raffles will take place throughout the day.

Hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, draft beer, and pop will be available at the festivities.

Proceeds from donations, bucket raffles, 50/50 raffles, meat raffles, food, drink, and t-shirt sales will go to Sportsmen With Heart, the Cedarville Volunteer Fire Department, and the Cedar River Chapel’s Community Helping Fund. The Halfway Bar & Grill will also have a special menu out for the day of the BridgeWalk.