Several dozen "Warrior Walkers" strode the Salmon Run Mall on Saturday in support of family members and troops deployed to Iraq.

"Warrior Walk" is a 15-month project inspired by family members of deployed 10th Mountain Division troops and sponsored by local businesses.

The group plans to walk 5,785 miles in total, the distance from Watertown to Baghdad, according to Kirstin Rich, spokeswoman for the local chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.

"It was a good turnout," said Lindsay L. Lund, 29, whose husband is in Iraq.

About 65 people participated Saturday at the mall, down from the 75 who participated in the previous walk, held at Fort Drum.

Participants are grouped into teams of up to 10 and all wear a pedometer when they're walking. Each team member's miles are added up to get the group's total mileage. Five full teams and six partial teams showed up at the event Saturday and walked 60 to 70 miles.

Team spirit awards and prizes from mall vendors were given to participants.

The members have walked about 2,500 miles in total so far, Mrs. Lund said.

"We are going to walk the whole 5,700 by January," she said.

The project kicked off in October with a "Volksmarch" event featuring bratwurst, hot cocoa and mulled wine. T-shirts and commemorative pins will go to the first 300 people to finish.

"The reaction is outstanding," Mrs. Lund said.

"It's fun. It's a good time," said Joseph A. Basile, a former Marine.

He said he signed up for the project to support his wife, who was deployed with the Army in August.

"It's a good way to get people out moving," said Shannon R. Muchnikoff, Watertown.

Mrs. Muchnikoff said that her husband works at Fort Drum and that she became part of the group through the Family Readiness Group.

"It's a good social gathering," she said.

Teams can sign up anytime by contacting warriorwalktoiraq@yahoo.com or at future events. The group is still deciding the location of the next event, which is scheduled for St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

The event is sponsored by the Association of the U.S. Army, AmeriCU Credit Union, Sherwin Williams, OTIS Technology Inc., Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Mountain Community Homes, US Family Health Plan, Martin's Point and Tricare.