Arkansas
Aug 15 - Sep 10
Check out my Arkansas hosts
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MAP
Appleblossom
Mockingbird
8/16 - Phil Christensen, James Wood and Nikia Barron from Fort Smith Fire Dept gave me an escort through town!
Philip Gehlhausen, at Mercy Hospital, had a MUD BMT (Matched Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplant) in 1997 by Ronald Kaminski at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.  We were so excited to meet each other and share our stories.  Philip went on to get his bachelors degree and volunteers with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.  I was honored to meet Philip.....he is committed to helping others find donors!
Jeanneane Pinner walks all the way from Muldrow, OK, across the OK/AR state line with me, about 13 miles!
August 15, 2010 entering Arkansas
8/17 Forth Smith to Charleston...I loved this old houseThe Hiatt family hosted me in Charleston
AR State Representative, John Paul Wells, walked with me from Caulksville into Paris.Paris...another great building!Walking from Subiaco to New Blaine...what beautiful thunder clouds, huh? Luckily they were behnd me!
Debbie & Melissa, from the Dinner Bucket in New Blaine, fed me breakfast and shared water and gatorade for my walk.  Stop in when you drive through the
Arkansas River Valley.
Sunset between New Blaine and RussellvilleTyson Rush and his family hosted me in New Blaine.Arkansas Nuclear One on Lake Dardanelle, near Russellville. The locals call it the "cloud maker".Sunset in Russellville
New Blaine to Russellville
Conway - President of local 4016, Damon Reed, and Conway Fire Department fire chief Bart CastleberryThe Conway fire fighters escorted me through town, joined by Lori Washburn.8/26 - University of Central Arkansas Bears are hoping to do several annual drives per year, following my visit today.
Conway
Damon Reed
and
Bart Castleberry
getting students involved
Maumelle firefightersMaumelle Mayor Michael Watson presenting the Jada Bascom Foundation with a Proclamation for a Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Day, August 27Jeana gets a ride in the "big truck"!!Courtney, front. Sandra, Rhonda, Anita & Diana from UAMS Myeloma Clinic. Rhonda is a marrow recipient and introduced me to the folks who are responsible for her successful transplant, including Dr. Frits van Rhee.MIRT - Hospitalists. It was my pleasure to share my story with them.Lacey and Liane from MEMS Ambulance Service gave me a lift to my route.
Maumelle
The "Big Dam Bridge" from North Little Rock into Little Rock.The Big Dam BridgeLittle Rock River Front
The "Big Dam Bridge" and the river front in Little Rock
North Little Rock to Lonoke
I met Rhonda Robin while I was in Conway. She took me to UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) in Little Rock, where she had her transplant. It was my privilege to meet her and her brother, Ray Moll, who was her donor.
North Little Rock to Lonoke.....
Staunen, from MEMS Ambulance Service, put a dressing on my foot to help with my blister while shuttling me back to the Crowne Plaza in Little Rock
The capitol building in Little RockThe Peabody Ducks, read the story in my journal, Aug 31.
Elise is the advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Lonoke. I had dinner with the officers to talk about Steps To-Marrow and make the initial plans for a marrow donor drive in LonokeSunrice over LonokeLonoke to Hazen
.....and on to Hazen
Upon leaving Arkansas and crossing into Tennessee, Jeana has logged 3257 miles!
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Read my Aug 31 journal entry, entitled The Peabody Little Rock.  Learn more about the
Peabody Ducks here
Hazen to BrinkleyI met a woman at this vegetable stand in Biscoe. When she saw me she said, "I've been waiting for you. I saw you on TV!" Have you ever seen such beautiful tomatoes?Todd Minor....be sure to read his story. The link is on the HOME page.Neely and John Henry escorted me down the highway.An emerald green creek in Forrest City.
Hazen to Forrest City
RETURN TO  TOP
Forrest City to Shell LakeShell Lake to West MemphisShell Lake to West MemphisI'm seeing some pretty cool signs, don't you think?
It's my last day in Arkansas.....
......as I cross the Mississippi River
on the Memphis Arkansas Bridge