Hundreds join Ind. walk honoring SeaWorld trainer

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — More than 200 people turned out for a fundraising walk toward a memorial foundation established by the family of the SeaWorld Orlando trainer from northwestern Indiana killed last year when she was pulled underwater by a whale.

People brought along dozens of dogs for the walk Sunday at a Merrillville park honoring Dawn Brancheau.

Diane Gross of Schererville tells The Times of Munster that her sister was a dog lover and that she had no idea how many lives she touched.

The walk raised several thousand dollars, which Gross says will be split between a children's home in Chicago, the Boys and Girls Club in her hometown of Cedar Lake, a planned dog park in Schererville and a scholarship at Andrean High School, from which she graduated.