Walk About America

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated in Rotary Walk 2009. Together we raised more than $10,000 for Rotary International’s Polio Plus program. That’s enough money to vaccinate 16,000 children!

Again, thanks for everybody’s hard work and great effort!

Rotary Walk 2009 Article

Wow! Over $5,000 raised for Polio Plus through Rotary Walk 2009! Thanks to everybody who responded to Wednesday’s goal. Here’s an update on the campaign:

With 8 days to go, we have registered 19 people, created 13 teams, and raised over $5,000.00 for Polio Plus!

I’m very proud to say that 7610 district Governor Horace McCormack and First Lady Carlota have registered for Rotary Walk 2009. We also have a newcomer in Steve Botello, who created Team Prince William. Welcome!

Leesburg-Daybreak Rotary Club has now raised $875.00! And the Rotary Club of Gainesville-Haymarket is still leading the way with $3,140.00!!!

Our new goal: 8 day to go…Let’s register 8 more people and take our total to $8,000 for Polio Plus!

Get involved at http://www.firstgiving.com/rotarywalk

Thanks to everyone who has helped so far. Don’t forget to let your fellow club members, family, and friends know about our walk for Polio Plus next Saturday, October 24th. Check out http://www.rotarywalk.org for details on the Final Five walk from Arlington to the White House. Come walk with us!

We’re very forunate to have Chris Mallin, Polio Plus Chairman for the Rotary Club of Arlington, helping us with the Final Five Walk on Saturday, October 24th. Here’s the plan:

We will meet at 2 pm at the Arlington Co building parking lot at 1400 N.
Quincy Street (see map links below) - this is near Washington-Lee High
School. The Custis trail is located across from that parking area. There
is plenty of parking in that vicinity and it is a short walk to the Ballston
metro for your members that are traveling in. Some of our members might
jump on the trail a little further west, but we can all meet at the Quincy
location at the predetermined time.

As far as the route goes, it looks like the Custis trail, to Mt. Vernon
trail, to Memorial Bridge, across the mall, to the Ellipse is the best bet.
The distance is around 5 miles. Once in DC, folks can walk back or take
the metro to Ballston.

map
view

street
view

Thanks for your help Chris.

Feel free to call or email with any other questions.

Eric Latham

info@rotarywalk.org

276-494-1656

To sign up or donate click on the following link to the official Rotary Walk fundraising page:

The latest walk we’re working on will benefit Rotary International’s Polio Plus program. Here’s a brief description:

One step at a time, Rotarians are walking to “End Polio Now.” It’s part of a new local-to-global campaign, founded by members of the club in Gainesvilles-Haymarket (VA), called Rotary Walk to the White House. On October 24, 2009, World Polio Awareness Day, these District 7610 Rotarians will be walking to the White House to raise money for Polio Plus, a campaign to eradicate Polio. They are also challenging Rotarians across America and around the globe to walk in their communities on the same day for the same cause. The ultimate goal is to raise $200 million for Polio Plus, matching the grant given to Rotary International by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, totaling $555 million and finally putting an end to this disease. To walk with us, make a donation, or learn about other ways to get involved, please visit www.rotarywalk.org or search “Rotary Walk to the White House” on Facebook.

I first met Ricky Duncan in Madisonville, Louisiana (Photo courtesy of Ricky & Linda Duncan).

Ricky Duncan, originally from Bogalusa, Lousiana, joined us for the hike up Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia, on July 11, 2009. It wasn’t the first time I met he and his wife, Linda, but it was the first time I’d heard the full history of his health.

The fact that he hiked 8 miles up a mountain, with only a handful of breaks, after everything he’d been through, was truly amazing. In his own words, here’s his story:

“In 1999 I had my right shoulder operated on, which involved cleaning of the rotator cup and reattaching cartilage. In 2001 I had major back surgery, which included removal of 2 disc in L-4 & L-5, cages were inserted, Two titanium rods were put side by side, with six screws to hold it to my vertebras, and bone taken out of my hip to fuse everything together. In 2003 I had three blockages in my main artery going to my heart which took 2 by-passes to correct. In 2009 I had the same surgery on my shoulder that was done in ‘99. I was told then that I don’t have enough cartilage left to have the surgery again. It will take total shoulder replacement next time. Last year, because of high exposure to asbestos, I was diagnosed with asbestosis (I worked at a paper mill in the early 70’s). I was told then that it might turn into cancer. My father worked with asbestos tile in the 50’s and also worked at a iron foundry. He also smoked. In 1960 at the age of 40 he died with lung cancer. My mother developed breast cancer in 1975, and it spread to her lungs, and she died from lung cancer also. She was 50 years old. Cancer has also effected my wife’s family. Her sister lost two children two years ago, within three months of each other. Her other sister lost her husband 5 years ago to cancer. Also she has lost two cousins to cancer.
I decided that I should do something, anything, to help. Now I am growing my hair out to donate to Locks For Love. I recently participated in a Climb For Cancer, to help raise awareness and money for cancer research.
I hope this will help in some way, I don’t know how much longer I have on this earth, but I’m living my life to the fullest. My wife and I decided, after being hit by hurricane Katrina, that we should sell everything and buy a camper and see this country up close and personal, Over two years ago we set out on our journey, traveling from coast to coast, enjoying life. No regrets.”

Team Walk About America, Mount Rogers, Climb for Cancer Foundation, July 11, 2009: Eric M. Latham, Ricky & Linda Duncan, Matthew Hammond, Terry Michael Banks, Jr. (Photo courtesy of Ricky & Linda Duncan).

Join us on Saturday, July 11, 2009, for a hike up Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia, to benefit the Climb for Cancer Foundation.

The hike is about 9 miles to the top and back. It will begin at 11 a.m. and should take about three to four hours. To get there, take exit 45 off of Interstate 81. Then take route 16 south. When you reach the town of Volney, head west on route 58. When you reach Grayson Highland State Park, head for Massie Gap parking lot. That’s where we’ll begin. Here’s the website for Mount Rogers National Recreation Area: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/mr/index.shtml

Join our team or make a donation!

Thank you very much for your participation and/or support.