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Reschke, page 3
by abby debruine

Word of Reschke’s journey traveled quickly, even to the most obscure Wisconsin towns, causing something of a Forrest Gump-like following.

Ron Reschke was Forrest Gump with a purpose.

In the middle of the fourth leg of his trip, Reschke met up with a deer about 22 miles south of Ashland. The deer began to walk with him, following him from behind at first, eventually working up the nerve to walk in stride with Reschke. Cars driving by began to slow down for the photo-op that lasted for more than 12 miles. Concerned with the fact that the road was windy and traffic had started to back up, Reschke called the local sheriff’s department for assistance.

Reschke explained the situation to an amused operator, and shortly after, an officer arrived. The officer thanked him for the call and told him how wonderful he thought the walk was. He escorted him and the deer a half-mile up the gravel road and told him from then on, he was on his own.

Reschke was alone once again.

On July 22, Reschke returned to Madison, 15 pounds lighter, and his charity of choice—the UW-Madison Comprehensive Cancer Center—$8,500 richer. Reschke had hoped to raise much more, but Ann Johnson, fundraising and special events manager for the cancer center, says his walk was extremely successful.

“For a one-man event, it’s an incredible number. We’ve had other events that a dozen people organized and don’t raise nearly that much,” Johnson says. “But even more successful was Ron’s ability to increase cancer visibility and awareness. And that can’t be measured in dollars.”

Reschke has plans for a national Walk to Heal campaign slated for 2007 but says he’ll be delaying it for another year-and-a-half. Shortly after he returned from his 1,200-mile trip, he applied for a promotion to maintenance mechanic at the hospital and was eventually awarded the job.

Reschke doesn’t want to jeopardize his new position.

“Everybody’s got a career and I don’t want people to feel that I’m utilizing the system to get time off,” he says.

But sometimes he wonders whether doing the walk gave him an edge over other applicants.

“I guess what I did could be counted as volunteer work, which can be put on a resume,” Reschke says. “And these days, in the professional world, every little bit helps.”

Reschke hasn’t had a chance to finish writing his thank-you notes to all the people who donated to his cause. He hopes they still remember him—not for what he was doing, but what he was doing it for.

“Wisconsin’s doing something about cancer research. To come out of the woods after living there for 11 years- to work at the hospital was an eye-opening experience,” Reschke says. “Chemotherapy has come a long way and with all the new technology available, you have to keep up on the progress they’re doing. You can’t stop.”

“What I did was a sacrifice. I had to sacrifice a year-and-a-half of planning, no pay. But anyone could have done it if they really wanted to,” he says humbly.

What Reschke doesn’t realize is not anyone could have done it. In a 60-hour work-week world, it’s difficult to find time for oneself, much less the community. But Reschke feels that whatever amount a person can give, be it a lunch hour or a three-month journey, it will always be time well spent.

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curb magazine 2005: balance for wisconsin's young professionals