Man attempting two-year walk-a-thon

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake resident Rich Foley is attempting the longest hike of his life to benefit Alzheimer research.

Touching his shoes against several borders in Grant County, Foley plans to walk an estimated 7,750 miles in two years.

“I’ll only be walking during the day,” Foley said. “I’ll be taking the bus home at night.”

Foley plans to start his walk Wednesday and travel each day toward a border in Grant County. Each day, he will ride the bus home, only to return to the same point he left off the next day.

He will pause during the hottest summer months for a read-a-thon in July and August, and then continue his journey from September to December. During the winter, Foley will continue his read-a-thon.

Foley will resume his walk in 2010.

When he is finished, he hopes to have reached the Adams County, Okanogan County, Douglas County and Lincoln County lines.

“The reason I’m doing this hike is to benefit every Alzheimer’s association in the Pacific Northwest,” Foley said.

Foley is collecting donations to an association of the donor’s choice. He hopes to benefit the chapters of Fairbanks, Ala., Seattle, Washington State Inland Northwest, Portland, Ore., Medford, Ore., Boise, Idaho., and Billings, Mont.

Inspired by the group Heart’s music, Foley said he is “crazy on a cure, and straight on for prevention.”

Alzheimer’s disease runs in Foley’s family. His grandfather, dad, two uncles and an aunt suffered from Alzheimer’s and are now deceased. One aunt currently has Alzheimer’s.

“They say that Alzheimer’s is caused by some kind of a gene, and it goes from generation to generation,” he said. “I’m worried about my generation of my family getting it, and there is no known cure yet.”

A breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment is the medication donepezil hydrochloride, sold under the brand name Aricept, Foley said. But the medication has limits for who can take it, he added.

Alzheimer’s patients no longer remember people, their joints stiffen, and they can experience audio and visual hallucinations in the later stages, Foley said.

“I can’t imagine what an Alzheimer patient sees in his or her hallucinations,” he said.

Foley plans to walk along highways, county and primitive roads. The only major highway he plans to avoid is Interstate 90.

The walk was inspired by stories of other people who traveled long distances.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Last year, Foley completed a 180-mile walk round trip from Moses Lake to Grand Coulee for the organization Feed the Children. Foley fractured his foot 114 miles into the walk, putting the remaining trip on hold.

At first he thought the injury might force him to cancel the walk. But he healed completely.

The trip was made on two replaced hips.

Donations can be made by calling Rich Foley at 509-762-6780.