|
Welcome My name is Jim
Hickey.
On April 2nd, 2010, I will try for a 5th time to walk across America for Cancer research awareness in memory of my Dad whom I lost to Prostate cancer On September 5th, 1995. Six months after I lost my Dad, my Brother-at age 41-was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.On September 4th, 1996 my brother had Cancer surgery, which was succesful.I am also including in my walk Cystic Fibrosis research awareness in honor of a girl named Victoria, whose school I spoke to in North Carolina on my 3rd try, and Artritis research awareness in memory of my Mom whom I lost on November 4th 2008.
My 1st attempt to walk across America started on April 30th, 1998 in Middletown, N.Y. and ended In July 2001 in Clovis N.M. after walking 2, 154 miles. My 2nd try started on September 5th, 2001 in Washington D.C. and ended in June of 2003 in Denver CO.after 2, 282 miles on foot. My 3rd walk started on November 30th, 2003 in Virginia Beach VA. and ended in November of 2004 in Hopkinsville KY. after hoofing it for 1, 101 miles, and my 4th started in Charlotte N.C. on July 1st, 2008 and finished up in Tallahassee FL.in October 2009 after 705 miles. In all I walked 6,242 miles to promote awareness for the causes I believe in.
I was able to dedicate portions of the walk to 18 children and 3 families along the way, using my walk as a platform through the media to raise awareness for whatever help they may needed in the battles they were going through. I spoke to over 30 schools, elementary through college and encouraged students to try and make a difference in what was close to their hearts, follow their dreams, and to NEVER give up.
|
|
|
Many pro and college sports teams also got involved either by inviting me to a game, raising money for a charity I try to promote, or having a raffle or letting me sell t-shirts to fund the trip. They include The St.Louis Blues, The St.Louis Cardinals, The Kansas City Royals, The Colorado Avalanche, The Carolina Hurricanes, The Atlanta Braves, Jack Del Rio of the Jacksonville Jaguars, The Charlotte Checkers (N.Y Rangers minor league hockey).Thanks to the Huntsville Stars(Brewers AA) and Jacksonville Suns(Marlins AA) for letting me throw out the 1st pitch(in the dirt, both times)! And Simpson College IA. Women's volleyball and Duke University Women's basketball.
I essentially gave up all I had to do these walks which, other then 400 miles when those I met on the road were kind enough to follow me for a portion of it, I did alone with a 50lb backpack. The 4th walk ended because injury, the 1st three because of support issues and getting a trail vehicle to follow me across the mountains and desert out west.I was not going to do that part alone.
*****I AM CRAZY , BUT NOT THAT CRAZY*****
I supported myself through over 20 odd jobs along the way and help from organizations I am a member of such as The Fraternal Order of Eagles, The Loyal Order of Moose, and the American Legion(4 years in the U.S.Marine infantry) plus the sale of t-shirts on my 3rd, 4th, and now 5th try. Also countless kind souls along the road. I've stayed in the homes of people I've just met over 100 times.
I DO NOT TAKE DONATIONS FOR RESEARCH!!! Instead I'm asking people to donate to one of the following charities, www.cityofhope.org or www.curesearch.org for Cancer, www.esiason.org for Cystic Fibrosis and www.arthritis.org for Arthritis. I DO NOT BELONG TO NOR DO I REPRESENT any of these organizations but I prefer those 4. Any other organization that is close to your heart will be just as fine.Please don't forget to mention you donated because of this walk.
Thank you to the 161 local newspapers, the 101 local TV. stations and the over 75 radio stations that reported on these walks. That's how I've been able to raise the awareness for cures in all diseases.
If you’d like to help sponsor the walk and order a t-shirt, please
contact Phil at Diamond Phils, e-mail address: diamondphils@optonline.net.
The color and design are the same that appears in the upper right hand corner of this site.
You will able to keep track of the walk itself at www.cancerwalkusa.com.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN FINDING A CURE, STEP BY STEP!!!
|
|
|