Walking for a cause

Every year Notre Dame Regional High School's seniors raise money for a cause by walking.

This year, they laced up their walking shoes in honor of a friend.

Jessie LeGrand, a Notre Dame senior, has cystic fibrosis. Her classmates have seen the effects the disorder has had on her life. On many days, as was the case Wednesday during the walk, she has missed school to receive treatments or because she was sick.

With LeGrand far away receiving a lung tune-up in Columbia, Mo. her classmates were back home in Cape Girardeau walking five miles throughout downtown to raise money for research into the degenerative disease that damages LeGrand's pancreas, respiratory system and sweat glands and makes her prone to respiratory infections.

In all they raised about $5,000 to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder affecting more than 30,000 people in the United States.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited disease leading to a shortened life span, now about 32 years. The disease occurs in one of every 3,300 Caucasian births; one of every 15,300 African-American births and is rare in Asians, according to Merck Manual Home Edition, a medical reference book.

"We want to raise awareness about this disease because it affects a lot of people," senior class adviser Sarah Strohmeyer said. "These kids have grown up all these years with someone who has it and we've dealt with her missing school and the effects of her illness."

LeGrand did not join her fellow seniors in the walk; she was at University Hospital in Columbia for a "tune-up" and arrived home later in the afternoon.

A tune-up cleans out her lungs from the infection that she carries in the mucus build-up that causes her lung function to drop. The procedure gets her back up to about 50 to 80 percent lung function, LeGrand's mother, Sally Broughten said.

"She's really remarkable and the group of kids are too. They're all real strong," Broughten said. "A lot of them look to her for guidance."

While LeGrand's lungs don't function properly some of her friends took healthy lungs for granted.

LeGrand inspired some of her friends who had been smoking to quit, and told Jessie they were doing it for her, Broughten said.

"There are positive things that come from it," Broughten said.

The seniors chose to walk to be visible to the public and succeeded. A number of cars honked at the groups as they walked from Old St. Vincent Church to New St. Vincent, in all covering five miles.

It was something that we all could do together to support LeGrand, Molly Hahs said.

The walk also gave the seniors a chance to catch up with friends they haven't seen in awhile and not take friendship for granted.

"Just walking with them on the walk makes up for lost time," student body president Robin Phelps said.

Senior class president Adam Reinagel said he enjoyed reminiscing with a friend he hadn't talked to in a long time.

Hahs called LeGrand during the walk and told her about how cold it was and all the fun they were having.

"I miss Jessie. I wish she was with us," Hahs said.

Reinagel has known LeGrand since they were six in first grade together in Kelso and has seen the effects cystic fibrosis has on his friend.

Reinagel said the walk was special to him.

"A few times in her life she's gotten really sick and it was scary," he said.

It's nice that they can do something to help her and others with cystic fibrosis, Reinagel said.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127