Published: May 07, 2008 11:13 am            

Walking for a cure

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MCLEANSBORO — To raise awareness in the fight against cancer, a Colorado man is going the distance. And so far he’s walked nearly 1,150 miles.

Ron Kessler began walking across the United States on March 1 from Delaware and arrived in McLeansboro Monday evening. After a stop in Opdyke Tuesday evening, he plans to be in Mt. Vernon today — complete in pink wig and glasses.

“The purpose [of the walk] is two-fold — to promote education for breast cancer and encourage women to get exams and mammograms when scheduled, and raising funds for Komen for the Cure,” Kessler said.

A close friend of Kessler’s was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2004. And though treatment suggested the cancer was in remission, it was discovered last year the cancer had actually metastasized in her bones and lungs and was now terminal. As a result and in support of his friend, Kessler decided to embark on his journey across the United States.

“I never did a trip for a greater cause though and I felt it was time I did so,” Kessler states on his online journal.

His goal is to raise $100,000 for the Komen for the Cure and to date, and while he considers his goal “ambitious,” he believes it can be met. To date, Kessler has raised $3,122.

During his backpack travels, he will be “loosely” following the American Discovery Trail, which runs from Cape Henlopen, Del., to Point Reyes, Calif. After leaving Mt. Vernon, he will be heading towards Freeburg before turning towards St. Louis.

In the evenings, he makes camp either at a motel, at restaurants with permission, or at the homes of residences supporting his cause. “A lot of people have helped. I’m doing this alone. This is my cause.”

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. An estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer and it is estimated that 1,990 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die of breast cancer during 2008.

To follow Kessler’s journey, you may visit his Trail Journals online at http://www.trailjournals.com/roadtothecure. He is still accepting donations during his walk. You may also donate to Komen for the Cure on Kessler’s Trail Journals, by calling 877-465-6636 or by mail at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 505 LBJ Fwy STW 250, Dallas, Texas, 75244.

        

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