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Show •N E . W S Spanish Fork A8 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007 Covering what matters most miles w*. Man walks across America for mother Amy Baum STAFF WRITER "I wanted to do something for her that I knew I could do, or at least thought I could Most likely we all have, at do," he said. one time or another, walked He had the summer off or ran to raise money or before he started graduate awareness for a disease. school in the fall, and he had Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, the time and energy for this Breast Cancer, you name monumental task. it and there is a walk/run fundraiser for that affliction. These walks/runs are usually no more than a few miles, "I am doing this something most of us can to finish the walk handle, but have you ever considered walking across my dad didn't America to raise awareness get the chance to or money for your selected [do]." organization? Probably not. Our lives are so busy that we just don't have that kind of — Joseph Casamassima time, right? Well, that's not the case for Joseph Casamassima. On Fathers Day, Casamassima set out from Stroudsburg, "This trip is also partly for Penn. on a journey that will my dad," he said. carry him across the United Several years ago, States to raise money and Casamassima's dad worked promote awareness for for the San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis. Chronicle. The paper was As of Aug. 26, Joseph was sponsoring a "Walk Across on his 70th day of walking America." They set off from — yes, walking — across the steps of the San Francisco America. His mother was Library, but unfortunately the diagnosed with MS 10 years crew of four or five people ago. In the past couple only made it to Bakersfield, of years she has started Calif. progressing from type 1 to "I am doing this to finish type 2. Casamassima felt that the walk my dad didn't get the more than just a "fun" walk/ chance to, only backwards," run was needed to support his he said with a smile. mom's treatments, and that is In about 23 days, give or where the idea came to him. take a few, Casamassima will proudly walk up the steps of the San Francisco Library to complete the journey for his mom and dad. "There is great research being done for MS," he said, "but there needs to be more. More research for a cure and more research for finding better medications for the disease." While in Nebraska, he was staying with a family for the night and the woman of the house said, "Hopefully in 10 years MS will stand for Mystery Solved." "That's my greatest wish, for the mystery to be solved for my mom," he said. Casamassima has a website at www.keystonesmilcs.org that shows a map pinpointing where he has been and where he is going. In addition, at www.nationalmssocicty.org, you can learn more about or donate to MS. Through this site, you can also donate directly to or send Casamassima words of encouragement and thanks for what he is doing. Go to this website, then to "tributes and memorials," and type in Casamassima. Casamassima is full of energy, passion and determination, and those qualities have definitely been tested on this journey of love. Amy Baum / Spanish Fork News Good luck on your continuing EXTRA MILES: Joseph Casamassima is walking across America — from Pennsylvania to Calijourney. fornia — to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. He stopped in Spanish Fork on Aug. 26. MODEL YEA CLEAflAlMC m $500 LABOR DAY BONUS CASH + $2,007 ADDITIONAL BONUS CASH ON ALL 07 TRUCKS AND SUVS! $500 LABOR DAY BONUS CASH ON ALL '07 CARS! 2534 NORTH 200 EAST • SPANISH FORK > 798-3553 Oldest Ford dealer in Utah Locally owned and operated Proudly serving Utah County for 83 years •Offer Expires September 4,2007 — OAC — See Dealer For Details — Must Finance Through Ford Motor Credit — Not All Aplllcants Will Qualify Fork" |