Meet the 2007 HFD Team Aileen Goss Andrea Hoffman Brianna McMullen Cindy Kiamko Cindy Vogelberger Clint Reach Deb Donofrio Ellen Brooks Erin Noseworthy  Greg Palmer Heather Mitchell Heidi Sowers  Jessica Koman Joel Shalowitz  Kate Brotman  Kate Greenberg Kendra Plemmons Kevin Pearson ‡ Kim Guercio Kyle Bray * Lisa Fronc * Lauren Allen † Olivia Darden Patti Harden ** Paula Finkelstein Terrill Esposito Tracy Kight Rosamaria Somarriba Samuel Somarriba

** Hike Leader * Mentor † LLS Staff ‡ Honorary Team Member

Hike Hero - Gary

A Hike Hero in the Hike For Discovery program is a person that is currently fighting a blood cancer. The members of each group hike in honor of this individual.

The Hike Hero for the Maryland Chapter is Gary Todd. He first discovered he had enlarged lymph nodes during a visit to the hospital after having chest pains during a hike in late November 2003. In June 2005 he began feeling tired and experiencing night sweats. At first he thought he was worrying unnecessarily because of his impending retirement the next year. However, after a number of tests it was diagnosed with Stage 4, Non-Hodgkin’s spleenic lymphoma.

Gary underwent a chemotherapy treatment in six cycles over eighteen weeks and on January 1, 2006 went into remission. Unfortunately in late March of 2006 he began to feel sick again and in mid-May he began treatment with Rituxin*. He has been diagnosed with chronic lymphoma and will be taking Rituxin every ninety days for at least the next two years.

www.HikeForDiscovery.org

Time of Hike: 8:30 AM
Distance Hiked: 5.5 Miles
Temp During Hike: Low 21.9 °F   High 28.0 °F
Elevation Change: 300 Ft

This hike was just as cold as the last one but there was less snow on the ground this time. We met at the Park and Ride at the intersection of S. Rolling Rd. and 195. From there we crossed the road and headed into Patapsco Valley State Park for a 5.5 mile hike with an elevation change of around 300 ft.

We had to share the trail with mountain bikers, other groups of hikers (from the Baltimore Hiking Club), and even a Boy Scout troop. Despite all the other park visitors we were still able to find some peaceful spots along the trail and some beautiful scenery. At one location there was a small frozen waterfall on the hillside.

Overall this trail was easy but it had a couple challenging spots. We had to cross several frozen streams and at one point even had to pass through a tunnel with a floor completely covered in ice and an icy slope at the far end. This tunnel brought us out to the bike trail along the Patapsco River. We followed the bike trail down to Lost Lake where we were greeted by a few ducks. From there we headed up a road past picnic shelters to our trail back out to the parking lot.

  About Patapsco Valley State Park, MD

Park Headquarters
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-5005

Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 14,000 acres and five developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions.

For more information visit:

• Ruins of Patapsco Valley State Park
• Official Park Site

  Photos

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