South student to give his all in walk
by Mary Barrera, south news editor

    Many people put their money where their hearts are, but one TCC student plans to put his feet and energy where his heart is.

   Ryan Johnson, 26, a South Campus nursing student, plans to spend an upcoming weekend walking 60 miles from Fort Worth to Dallas.

   Johnson is raising money in the fight against breast cancer.

   He will participate in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walk.

   “Raising funds is a lot easier than expected because it seems a lot of people have been touched in some way by breast cancer,” he said.

   Johnson’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994.
“It was pretty advanced when they found it, and she had to have a total mastectomy,” he said.

   She survived that bout, but has since been diagnosed with bone cancer.

   “I wanted to do something about it,” he said.

   The walk is 60 miles over three days.

   Mobile tent cities travel with the participants and provide food, showers and places to sleep.

   To join in the walk, participants must raise a minimum of $1,900.

   Johnson is continuing his regular exercise program in preparation for this event.

   “I tried walking for a while, but it was too slow, so I went back to running,” he said.

   “I will slow down for the race,” he said.

   During the event, walking at a regular pace would take eight and a half hours a day for three days.

   “I think I will finish fairly quickly,” he said.

Johnson is one of the few men participating in this event.

Of those diagnosed with breast cancer, 4 percent are male.

Most participants are breast cancer survivors or family and friends.

For more information on the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walk or to make a donation in Johnson’s name (event code 3DDL-2002, participant number 1873, check digit 5), visit www.Be ThePeople.com or call 800-825-1000.