Two thousand mile hike raises funds for diabetes research

Many people go out every morning and walk a few miles a day for their own health, but when SIUC alumnus Bill Holden gets up to walk, he walks for the health of millions.

At age 56, Holden is doing something most people wouldn't even consider: He is walking from his home in Camp Verde, Ariz. to Wrigley Field in Chicago to raise money for juvenile diabetes research.

Holden came up with the idea for the walk on New Years Eve last year. He had been given a DVD for Christmas from his son called "This Old Cub," the story of legendary Chicago Cub third baseman, Ron Santo. Santo was diagnosed with type one diabetes at age 18 and has had both of his legs amputated due to complications from the disease.

An Elgin, Ill. native, Holden has been a Cub fan his entire life. When he saw what diabetes did to his favorite baseball player, Holden knew he had to take action.

"I knew at the time I was going to do something like this," Holden said. "The planets kind of aligned and it clicked into my head and I knew what I was going to do."

While seeing Santo lose his legs was what put him into action, it wasn't Holden's first experience with the disease. Holden was a teacher at an American Indian reservation in Tusca Valley, Ariz. where he said diabetes was an epidemic. He was tired of seeing children suffer and knew he knew he had to do something.

"I taught kids that you would see one day and then you wouldn't see them the whole next week because they were too weak to go to class," Holden said.

Holden began walking on Jan. 11 and plans to end the 2,100-mile journey at Wrigley Field in Chicago in time to see the Cubs play the Milwaukee Brewers on June 30. Holden's goal is to average 12 miles per day. He has already walked 600 miles and is currently in Artesia N.M. This will be the first time in 33 years Holden will miss the Cubs spring training in Arizona, but that isn't bothering him.

"It's worth it," Holden said. "This is the most incredible experience."

Jeff Santo, Ron Santo's son, made the documentary that started Holden on his way. He produced the film "This Old Cub" about his dad and started a website with the same name to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Jeff Santo is helping find lodgings for Holden along the way.

Jeff Santo said he is glad his film had the affect on Holden that it did. He said his father is excited about Holden's walk, and plans to be in Chicago when Holden arrives.

"It just shows what the film is all about," Santo said. "To have Bill do what he is doing just really validates everything. My dad was just amazed."

Holden got the chance to talk to his favorite player for the first time while he was walking in Arizona. Ron Santo called him on his cell phone to wish him luck while he was in Strawberry, Ariz. Since then, he has called a few more times, and Holden said every time Ron Santo calls him it makes the walk worth it.

"He has called me a couple times," Holden said. "Every time he calls I say 'Ronny, this is worth another ten or fifteen miles."

Greg Reisig, an SIUC alumnus and longtime friend of Holden, is also assisting Holden in routing his journey and finding him places to stay. Reisig said since Holden began planning his walk, they have found a large network of SIUC alumni who are also Cub fans that want to help. Holden said these people are his biggest supporters.

"You put the Salukis together with the Cub fans and that's almost an explosive situation," Holden said. "You just can't beat the American people when they find out you are doing something like this. They come out of the woodwork to help you."

When Holden told Ed Buerger, executive director of the SIUC alumni association what he planned to do, a surge in the Saluki network started that reached SIUC alumnus and former Associate Vice Chancellor Roger Neuhaus.

When Neuhaus, now Vice President of Community Relations at Verde Valley Medical Center in northern Arizona, heard what Holden planned to do, he convinced his hospital to donate $5,000 for juvenile diabetes research and a cellular phone for Holden to use during his travels. Neuhaus is trying to get the hospital to donate another $5,000.

Neuhaus is taking this week off from work to walk with Holden in New Mexico. While Neuhaus will be the first person to accompany Holden on his journey, Holden says he has never been alone.

"I feel like every Cub fan in the country is walking with me," Holden said.

Buerger said this isn't the first time Holden has gone on an expedition like this. When Holden was an undergraduate at SIUC, he rode his bicycle to Washington, D.C., to commemorate the school's 100th anniversary.

Holden took a centennial plaque with him to give to president Nixon. He was given permission to do this by former SIUC President Delyte Morris, who gave him a check for $1,500 to cover travel expenses.

"There is quite a history here with this young man," Buerger said. "He's the kind of guy who is a few years older now, but his track record is such that when he puts his mind to something he normally accomplishes it."

Holden has no doubts that he will make it. Thus far, he has raised $20,000 for his cause. Holden said he knows he won't be able to show his face in Chicago, Carbondale or anywhere else if he quits now.'

"I know I'm going to get there," Holden said. "I'm a Cub fan; I've got to make it."

To find out more about Bill Holden's walk and juvenile diabetes research, visit www.thisoldcub.com