LARISSA GRAHAM/The Lufkin Daily News
2011/03/27
Capt. Allen Rush of Lufkin will walk 105 miles from Lufkin to Conroe to raise awareness for the disease that claimed the life of his great-nephew Jack Wolf.Photo by LARISSA GRAHAM/The Lufkin Daily News
LUFKIN, Texas - Starting Friday, a Lufkin man will walk from Lufkin to Conroe to raise awareness for the disease that claimed the life of his great-nephew.
Capt. Allen Rush of the Texas Medical Brigade branch of the Tyler Medical Response Group will walk the 105 miles to raise awareness and funds for the Jack Wolf Foundation, named after Rush’s great-nephew, Jack Wolf IV. Wolf passed away five weeks after his birth from osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. Over the last five years, the Jack Wolf Foundation has raised about $40,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital and the Empty Arms Ministry in Lufkin through an annual golf tournament at The Links of Westfork in Conroe.
Rush plans to walk the “Jack Jog” in 20-mile increments each day. He’ll be dressed in full gear, including a 20-pound pack that includes three liters of water, an MRE (meal, ready to eat), and other supplies that he might need along the way.
“The Army taught me to be over prepared,” Rush said with a grin. “Even though I’ll be following the road, I’ll have my compass in my pack.”
Rush, a Type I diabetic, will also have a supply of bananas and oranges, to keep his blood sugar under control, and an MP3 player with plenty of upbeat music to keep him going mile after mile.
“I have some classic rock from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, some Celtic bagpipe music, a little hip-hop, and some music from the Texas Aggie Band,” Rush said.
In addition to raising money for the Jack Wolf Foundation, Rush hopes his walk will bring attention to the Texas State Guard and encourage his fellow guard members to get fit.
“I’ve gotten healthier training for this,” Rush said. “And all I’ve been doing is walking.”
Rush called the Jack Jog a personal triumph, both for his health and his diabetes.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to do something for people who can’t do for themselves,” Rush said. “There are a lot of things we can do on a day-to-day basis to help our fellow citizens.”
More information on the Jack Wolf Foundation and the Jack Jog can be found on the foundation’s website at jack-wolf.org
Reprinted with permission, The Lufkin Daily News