A long road taken for research

Center News

Matthew Gregory finishes 5,000-mile trek for cancer

Photo by Andy Newman Matthew Gregory crosses the Florida Keys Overseas Highway's Seven Mile Bridge enroute to his Key West destination. His mother's life inspired his 5,000-mile walk.

It took more than a year, but the legwork of Matthew Gregory's coast-to-coast trek for cancer research is now complete.

On Sept. 1, 2006, after selling his truck and quitting his job with a beverage distributor, Gregory stepped out from his Bellingham, Wash., home on faith — determined to walk across the country to honor his mother and raise funds for the Hutchinson Center.

Carolyn Gregory died from cancer in 1999. She had given birth to Gregory prematurely while suffering from leukemia; he credits a bone-marrow transplant at the Center for extending her life 20 years.

Gregory's odyssey took him down the West Coast, then from Southern California east toward Florida. The journey ended Nov. 8 at the southernmost city in the continental United States — Key West.

Kindness, support from strangers

Along the way, Gregory camped out and accepted offers of room and board, along with donations for the Center. He stayed in 109 private residences offered mostly by people he'd just met.

"I didn't realize just how generous they would be, but cancer leads to so much loss in people's lives, and I really believe the average American is good and wants to help," Gregory said, pointing out that during his entire journey he was never mugged and rarely bothered by anyone.

Whenever possible, Gregory added to his blog diary at www.mywalkingadventure.com and has collected video for a documentary he intends to produce when he returns to the Northwest.

"My mother's life was the main motivator for me to make the walk for cancer research," Gregory said. "We were both lucky to live. Then the Hutchinson Center helped save her life. That's why I chose to raise funds for them."

Donate in memory of Carolyn Gregory

Gregory got the idea of a cross-country walk from a friend who suggested they make the trek together. The friend backed out, but Gregory decided to proceed. "This journey has allowed me to get to know the country," he said.

Gregory plans to retun to the Northwest in mid-December. "When I get back, what I want to do is catch up with friends and family I've missed," he said. "Just sitting down and having coffee with them sounds so good right now."

To date, Gregory has raised more than $10,000 for cancer research at the Hutchinson Center. Persons wishing to donate may do so in memory of Carolyn Gregory through www.mywalkingadventure.com.

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