Rob Emrich lost two family members to cancer and founded the Road of Life organization with friends to raise funds for cancer research through physical fitness initiatives. Their first event is a 312 mile walk from Cincinnati to Cleveland along bike paths and roads to raise $31,200. The organization aims to expand nationally and internationally, with future plans including a walk along the Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Argentina to spread their anti-cancer message further.

1. Walking for aCure
Group of
Sha ker grads
ta rgets
f itness
agai nst
Last year, Rob Emrich, 24, lost a cousin
to a malignant brain tumor. This u.-as a
double blou'for Rob, w'ho had also lost
his sister, Karen, to cancer. More au.are
than most of the way this disease ravages
the lives of both voung and old - and
their families - Rob decided to take
action. Together 4.ith his friends from
Shaker Heights High School, he has
founded the Road of Lif'e organization,
a charity that plans to take to the road
- on foot - in its mission to raise
funds fbr cancer research and education
and highlight the importance of fitness.
This month, in svnc with Ohio's
Bicentennial, Rob w-ill r,valk the 3 12
miles from dou'ntou.n Cincinnati to
Cler.eland using a combination of bicy-cle
paths and quieter roads. The walk,
the first step in a program that mav be
taken to a national and even interna-tional
level, is one of many ir-ritiatives the
group's founders want to accomplish.
As rvell as demonstrating the role fitness
plays in health, the group is participat-
Road of Life Founders (Top row) Mike Emrich, Schylur Schmidt, Matthew Fuerst
(Bottom) Josh Berezin, Matt Youngner, Rob Emrich (with Nedward, an APL adoptee
and Road of Life mascot). pnoto by Fettty Hitt
in f ight
ca ncer
ing in school and college health fairs
throughout the state featuring multi-media
presentations on cancer facts
and research. Rob will appear at each
of the health fairs and rvill make
appearances at other events, such as
r itr lestir.rls, along his route.
Next vear, Rob hopes to take on a
longer rvalk - the Pan-Arnerican
Highrval; w-hich stretches from Naska to
Argentina - follor,r,ing in the lbotsteps of
Briton George Meegan, ll'ho completed
the route in the 1970s. The group is
ivorking rvith Ohio State University's
Center for Latin American Studies
developing a r'r'eb curriculum that will
help get its anti-cancer message to a
r'r.ider audience.
Right nor,v though, the I'riends' goal is
to raise funds for the first 312 mile rnalk;
thev aim to raise $ 100 per mile by
October 1. For more information on
Road of Life, or to dedicate a mile of the
u.alk in honor or memoriam of a cancer
suflferer, please r''isit ww'w. roadoJ$e. org,
email office@roadoflife.org or telephone:
(6t4) 221-123s.
- Felicir,Hill