Mar 11, 2009
Local Man Walking 50 Miles On His 50th Birthday
Beth Norviel
LOCAL MAN TO WALK 50 MILES ON HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY FOR
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Many people celebrate their 50th birthday with a big celebration as friends and family may poke jabs with black balloons or “Over The Hill” paraphernalia. But Randy Adler has a different plan – to walk 50 miles in a single day.
Adler, an employee for the Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society, isn't doing this because it is part of his job -- he's doing it because it's a cause he believes in. Adler has done just about everything with the MS Society. He participated in the first Challenge Walk and completed five, he has volunteered on logistic committees and he has worked for the Gateway Area Chapter as the Volunteer Development Coordinator and a Development Senior Coordinator in charge of logistics.
He completed his first Challenge Walk after his father George was diagnosed with MS on his 65th birthday. While George may serve as an inspiration to Adler, he didn’t get involved in Challenge Walk MS and the MS Society for his father. His father wouldn’t let him.
Adler explains: “When I started getting involved in the MS Society, my dad said ‘Don’t do this for me. I’m old, I’ve lived my life. Do it for the young people, the new mothers and fathers who have their whole career and lives ahead of them. We’re never going to find a cure in my lifetime.’”
“Unfortunately that was the case and we didn’t find a cure in his lifetime,” Adler said. “My dad was stubborn but he had a great attitude and that’s not unlike most of the people I’ve met who have MS. They have such a positive attitude.”
Adler has always enjoyed a good challenge – whether it be a big conference or sectional race when he was a cross country runner at Alton High School or trying to manage the thousands of logistics for Bike MS, Challenge Walk MS and Walk MS. Now he has taken on a challenge to celebrate his 50th birthday. On March 14, Randy will walk 50 miles on his 50th birthday to raise money and awareness for MS.
“I’ve thought about how I could celebrate my 50th birthday for a long time,” Randy said. “Challenge Walk MS is always 50 miles so it made sense to walk 50 miles on my 50th.”
Adler’s journey will begin as the sun comes up in Edwardsville, where his dad, who had MS, lived. From there he’ll venture to Alton, where he was an all-American cross country runner at Alton High School. He’ll cross the Clark Bridge, part of the original Challenge Walk MS route, and then travel into Florissant where he’ll stop at his home for a quick change of clothes and a bite to eat. Then he’ll walk into Clayton and out Lindell to downtown St. Louis where he’ll finish up under the Arch as the sun goes down.
Randy hopes to become a Mission Possible member this year and raise $6,000 – one dollar for every person with MS in the Gateway Area. Go to 50onmy50th.com to learn more.
Interviews are available with Randy. Please contact Beth Norviel at 314-446-4172.