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76 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, August 18, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 15, 2004 Crystal Walsh One step at a time, benefit leaves lasting impressions By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Crystal Walsh’s walk to Portland this month raised lots of blisters on her feet and more than $3,000 for a local cancer center. The 17-year-old South Medford High School senior trekked the length of Interstate 5 from Medford to Portland to raise money for Rogue Valley Medical Center’s Dubs Cancer Center. The long walk was part of her senior project, a graduation requirement that includes hands-on work and a research paper. She and her boyfriend, Aaron Benson, finished the hike Wednesday afternoon, then celebrated by devouring an entire pizza at Olive Garden. "It was good to have a challenge for me and to do something positive for the community," Walsh said. Over the 10-day trip, which started Aug. 2, the teens walked between 23 and 30 miles a day. Advertisement "A quarter to five, the alarm went off," Walsh said. The walkers were on the road by 6 a.m. daily and continued until about 1 p.m. "The last few hours each day were really hot," she said. "The worst part, though, was the truck drivers with the air horns." Climbing one hill amidst constant honking, Benson realized just in time that a semi was barreling toward him on the shoulder. He was able to jump out of the way. "That was the scariest," Walsh said. She said the best moment was in a particularly painful stretch of walking when a friend stopped to hug and encourage her. Most of the trip was just plodding along — sometimes chatting, sometimes listening to music and sometimes dreaming of a cool drink of water and time to relax in a hot tub. "I didn’t realize how mental it would be," Walsh said. "I thought I was in good shape and could do it." Benson, a 2004 South graduate and distance runner, helped set the pace, despite an old shin injury. "There was no way I would have finished without Aaron," Walsh said. "He made me go faster. I didn’t want to quit because I knew he was walking through the pain." Walsh suffered severe blisters on her feet and ankle pain. " ‘I’m fine’ became code for ‘It hurts a lot. Don’t ask me about it’," she said. Walsh’s parents, John and Sharon, and a friend from church took turns driving the support car and keeping an eye on the walkers from the roadside. "To drive back and see what they just walked was amazing," John Walsh said. "I don’t think the drive to Portland will ever be the same," Crystal Walsh said. How to help Crystal Walsh still is accepting donations, which she plans to deliver to the cancer center next week. Donors can send checks made out to Dubs Cancer Center to Walsh at 2326 Jeremy St., Central Point, OR 97502. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities