2009.06.22
Relayer walks the extra mile in honor of his cousin
Most walkers who attend Salem's Relay for Life take turns within their team staying out on the track throughout from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and that is, in itself, a huge accomplishment. Tom McClung, however, defined the saying "going the extra mile" by honoring his cousin, Ken Smith, and walking all night long.Ken grew up in Ohio, and McClung has lived in Salem all his life. Summer trips are how they stayed close. When they chose colleges, Ken went to Washington and Lee and McClung picked another mens' school, rival Hampden Sydney.
In 2001, Ken passed away at the age of 44 from liver cancer.
"It was a really terrible thing and I just felt like I hadn't done anything to honor him," McClung said as he walked a brisk 15 minute mile about an hour into the event. His goal was simple and challenging: to walk 44 miles, one for each year of Smith's life. Ironically enough, it's about the same distance (minus ten miles) between Salem and Lexington, the place where Ken went to school and worked.
The number of miles didn't scare him as a former triathlete (now he humbly calls himself a try-athlete), and he did net a good number of them.
"I didn't make my mileage goal, but I am happy to report that I walked 30 miles," McClung wrote in an email. "I took a thirty minute ‘power nap' at 3:00 a.m., but walked from 7 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. otherwise. I only took a few rests in a chair as needed."
McClung even participated in the womanless beauty pageant, donning a red ball gown for several laps and a pair of high heels for at least one, all in good humor.
"I'm happier to report that the other goals I set for myself - raising money and awareness of Relay - were both quite successful."
ACE Private Risk Services and McClung, with the support of their family and friends, raised around $7,000 for the American Cancer Society.
OTHER COVERAGE OF SALEM'S RELAY FOR LIFE:
* June 22: Even more photos from Relay for Life (by Miranda Adkins)
* June 22: More photos from Relay for Life (by Barbara Krzysko)
* June 20: Photos from Relay for Life (by Erin Millar)
* June 19: Henry's pig gets a Relay for Life makeover
