March 7, 2004
Whig Herald
Quincy, Illinois
Woman hits Northeast Missouri in her global walk
By
Kelly Wilson
LaGrange, MO--Polly Letofsky is making her way to Canton today, and plans a stop in LaGrange Monday as part of her five-year, 15,000 mile walk around the world.
The Colorado woman is using her journey as a fund-raising and awareness effort for breast cancer.
"I do look forward to mark Twain country,"
Letofsky said, although she admits she's a bit leery about walking through the area during tornado season.
"This is a stretch I've been nervous about from the get-go," she said, "I just hope if there's a funnel along the way, someone will spot me on the road and pick me up."
She took a few months off after Christmas, but resumed her walk Saturday in Keokuk, Iowa, and hoped to get into Canton today. The LaGrange Lions Club is hosting an open house in her honor at 7 p.m. Monday at the Lions Hall.
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Roger Tiemann says the LAGrange lions Club is willing to do whatever it can to help Letofsky, including arranging lodging for her in Canton. members also will pick her up and return her to her stopping/starting points.
"While meeting and talking with women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer I've found that there are some real parallels between the walk and such a serious diagnosis," she added. "You can't look at the whole picture at once or you're likely to be come overwhelmed., so we choose smaller goals and day by day, or step by step, we overcome them."
"Certainly it's rough and terrific at the same time," she said. "I equate it to having children. It's tough, but you wouldn't give it up for anything. I am glad to see the end of it, really. But I'll miss is and look back on it fondly."