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Last Walker In-Repost
egypte - 01:22pm May 3, 2012 EST
MOD's Motto is to "Save Babies", My goal is "to save One Baby"
I haven't walked in awhile, but this year I am walking again, and hope to see Eugene mentioned below.
The Last Walker In
When did I first notice Eugene walking? I can't really remember the first time. I do know it was during one of the March of Dimes WalkAmerica events to raise money to “Save Babies”.
.
I walk in WalkAmerica also each year, my first one was in 1997. No one I've talked to seems to know when Eugene walked for the first time but everyone says the same thing, that he has walked as long as they remember. Each year he is the first person at the walk site, and the last walker to finish.
.
Eugene you see is special. Special in the sense of his abilities, not his disabilities. Physically just walking for him is very labored. One leg moving freely forward and his other leg requiring it to be lifted forward with each step. Walking is a task that takes great effort for Eugene, something most of us will never, hopefully, fully understand.
How many steps does it take to walk 7.2 miles? A mile is 5,280 feet? Each step is approximately 3 feet? I figure that is about 38,016 feet and divide that by 3 would equal 12,672 steps to reach the final check point. Why does this man persevere to walk that far with an obviously enormous effort on his part? Where does he get his motivation and his drive to complete this walk each year? I can only imagine. I know at no point in the walk will he accept a ride no matter how tired he is. Even though he appears to be near exhaustion he continues with the emergency vehicle as his escort to insure his safety as by the time he reaches most of the cross roads all the crossing guards have gone home.
.
Is the reason he walks due to a troubled birth, his own or someone else he knew? I can only speculate. I only know that I have a great sense of admiration for Eugene. I also know I will look forward to seeing him again next year at WalkAmerica. He will surely be there once again. His dedication will always inspire me to keep moving forward through any challenge that life presents to me. One step at a time.
.
Maybe I should have titled this “The First Walker Out”. Eugene is a hero, a hero to small babies every where that have yet to be born as the money he raises will go to the research, education and treatment programs funded by the March of Dimes.
Mike Schindler, Camp Hill, Pa.
Chairperson Chambersburg WalkAmerica
Note: Picture is of me in costume, and my Walk Ambassador, Hannah Lea Ann
Sorry, I do not have a picture of Eugene
MOD's Motto is to "Save Babies", My goal is "to save One Baby"
I haven't walked in awhile, but this year I am walking again, and hope to see Eugene mentioned below.
The Last Walker In
When did I first notice Eugene walking? I can't really remember the first time. I do know it was during one of the March of Dimes WalkAmerica events to raise money to “Save Babies”.
.
I walk in WalkAmerica also each year, my first one was in 1997. No one I've talked to seems to know when Eugene walked for the first time but everyone says the same thing, that he has walked as long as they remember. Each year he is the first person at the walk site, and the last walker to finish.
.
Eugene you see is special. Special in the sense of his abilities, not his disabilities. Physically just walking for him is very labored. One leg moving freely forward and his other leg requiring it to be lifted forward with each step. Walking is a task that takes great effort for Eugene, something most of us will never, hopefully, fully understand.
How many steps does it take to walk 7.2 miles? A mile is 5,280 feet? Each step is approximately 3 feet? I figure that is about 38,016 feet and divide that by 3 would equal 12,672 steps to reach the final check point. Why does this man persevere to walk that far with an obviously enormous effort on his part? Where does he get his motivation and his drive to complete this walk each year? I can only imagine. I know at no point in the walk will he accept a ride no matter how tired he is. Even though he appears to be near exhaustion he continues with the emergency vehicle as his escort to insure his safety as by the time he reaches most of the cross roads all the crossing guards have gone home.
.
Is the reason he walks due to a troubled birth, his own or someone else he knew? I can only speculate. I only know that I have a great sense of admiration for Eugene. I also know I will look forward to seeing him again next year at WalkAmerica. He will surely be there once again. His dedication will always inspire me to keep moving forward through any challenge that life presents to me. One step at a time.
.
Maybe I should have titled this “The First Walker Out”. Eugene is a hero, a hero to small babies every where that have yet to be born as the money he raises will go to the research, education and treatment programs funded by the March of Dimes.
Mike Schindler, Camp Hill, Pa.
Chairperson Chambersburg WalkAmerica
Note: Picture is of me in costume, and my Walk Ambassador, Hannah Lea Ann
Sorry, I do not have a picture of Eugene
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