DATE: Wednesday, September 3, 1997          TAG: 9709030646

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   57 lines

MANTEO SCHOOL GUARD SETS HER EYES ON THE PRIZE: MARCHING FOR MACY'S

Belva Weeks, the crossing guard whose colorful costumes have brightened many a schoolchild's morning for 14 years, has been selected to serve as a clown in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Weeks, 53, who has shepherded thousands of schoolchildren across U.S. 64/264 to Manteo Elementary School, has always wanted to be part of the holiday magic of the Macy's parade. Now she'll get her chance, thanks to the efforts of some local folks - advertising executives Frank and Kathy Sparrow.

``This is really my dream,'' said Weeks, 53, a Vander, N.C., native who lives in Manteo. ``When I was a little girl, I used to sit in the den and watch it. In my heart, I used to say, `Lord, wouldn't it be wonderful to march in that parade?' Well, the Lord has answered my prayers.''

Now, the Sparrows are spearheading an effort to help Belva make it to the Big Apple. It will take about $1,500 to cover Weeks' expenses for the trip. Weeks will depart for New York the day before the holiday parade.

Traditionally, only Macy's employees have been able to march in the nationally televised parade. For the last four years, Frank Sparrow had tried to go directly through Macy's in New York without success. Then, Sparrow contacted Audrey Gudger, a Nags Head graphic designer whose sister, Kathryn Fishman, is a regional human resources executive for Macy's in Maryland.

``It looks pretty promising,'' Gudger said. ``The people who are usually in the parade have to be Macy's employees or family or friends of Macy's employees. But my sister told me that you can get in if you're sponsored by a Macy's employee.''

Gudger sent several newspaper articles chronicling Weeks' work in the community. Weeks has been honored by a number of organizations, and has been recognized by North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. for her volunteer efforts.

``I've always been involved in community service projects through my work with the Jaycees,'' Gudger said. ``If I can help someone, I'll do it. In this case, it involved making a few phone calls. It just seemed the right thing to do. It's nice to do nice things for nice people.''

Weeks took the job of crossing guard after losing her son Lee in an accident. She learned of her Macy's chance shortly before the end of the school year.

``You know that Oreo commercial where they talk about feeling the magic? Well, four days before school ended, this little boy gave me an Oreo cookie. Right after that, Frank came and told me about the parade.''

The only difficult thing about her New York trip is that she'll have to find a replacement at the corner of Burnside Road and U.S. 64/264. But she's ready for the trip.

``You know, I'm from Vander originally,'' she said. ``I went to school with (pro golfers) Raymond Floyd and Marlene Floyd and all those big doctors, but nobody from Vander's ever been in the parade.''

FASTFAX:

To help Belva Weeks make it to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, mail contributions to:

Belva's Dream

P.O. Box 782

Manteo, N.C. 27954

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