Watkins' Long Walk For a Cure

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2009) -- By doctor's orders, John Watkins cannot run or ride bikes, the result of multiple surgical procedures on his back and ongoing chronic degeneration. What he can do and what he likes to do is walk … a LOT.

So when friends in the Windy City invited him to join in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure in Chicago, the professor at UK's Graduate Center for Gerontology jumped at the chance. The walk covers sixty miles during the three-day span and raises money for research to involve education, screening and treatment of breast cancer.

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"The three-day was appealing because of the distance and the cause," said Watkins. "My mother had breast cancer and did not survive. Several friends have had similar indirect experiences and several others have been diagnosed but survived."

For most people, a 60-mile walk would be a large enough challenge, but not for Watkins. Instead of 60 miles, Watkins decided to shoot for six HUNDRED.

"I tend to get carried away with things and this seemed well worth a crazy effort," said Watkins. "I basically am walking all these miles to raise money and awareness."

Watkins also has another connection to the disease, which made working to help raise funds for finding a cure an easy decision for the 52-year old native of northern Illinois and long-time fan of the Northwoods. 

"Some of my work with one of my doctoral students examined how breast cancer beliefs develop over the course of a woman's life," added Watkins. "An important part of my ongoing research is to better understand the process whereby general health beliefs and behaviors develop through life."

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Watkins set out on his journey on July 6, walking every step of his 540-mile route from Duluth, Minn., across the entire state of Wisconsin and into the Chicago suburbs where he finished 20 days later on July 25. Despite several injuries, including an early ankle sprain and shin splints during the final 100 miles, Watkins was able to maintain an average pace of 27 miles each day.

Watkins helped raise awareness along the way with radio interviews in Minnesota and along his route through Wisconsin, progress updates posted to Facebook and broadcast on radio stations, and a number of newspaper articles that appeared before and throughout the course of his walk, including coverage in the Chicago Tribune.

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"Too many people have been touched by breast cancer over the years. The Komen Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust are trying to make a positive difference in the lives of all these people by supporting much needed breast cancer education, screening, treatment, and critically important research towards a cure," said Watkins. "It seems like hardly a day passes when I don't hear breast cancer stories from friends and acquaintances. All of them are sad, but each is very special in its own way."

Watkins was able to raise about $3,000 during his march, all from individual donors with the majority being raised in only three months. Watkins didn’t want to start any fundraising efforts until he was confident that he could complete the walk. That confidence didn’t come until May of this year after sufficient training. 

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"Frankly, I'm not very good at fundraising, so I thought it would be helpful just to walk a lot and hope folks would acknowledge and respect my heartfelt reasons and give accordingly," Watkins said. "I walk to honor all those folks who are touched, both directly and indirectly, by breast cancer. I let my steps be their voice."

Watkins walked along state and county roads and marked the end of each day with a small symbol painted in pink on roads and sidewalks, the trademark color of breast cancer support, to ensure his next day's walk began without missing a single step.

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The solo walker pulled all his survival items in a modified bicycle trailer, including water, food, shelter, first aid, clothing and spare shoes. He spent two nights with friends in the area of his route, while resting in a small solo tent or local lodging on the other 18 days of his amazing walk. A solar battery charger, strapped atop the trailer, provided power for a cell phone that allowed Watkins to post progress updates and thoughts. 

“I walked alone the entire way, but I never really felt alone,” said Watkins. “Besides the folks I would meet and talk to in the small communities I passed through, I had a great team of friends. Their continued support stayed with me through every mile of the trip and their dedication to my cause helped to magnify the impact of my efforts.

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“Over my 600 miles from Minnesota, through Wisconsin and Illinois, and finally during the last 60 miles of the Komen 3-Day walk, the most recurrent thing I heard from people was ‘thank you… thank you for walking,'" said Watkins. "I never expected to hear such a thing or to hear it so often. And I never expected such simple words to touch me so deeply.”