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This article appeared in The Progress, Curwensville office, Pa., on Sept. 24. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without permission.

Rich Humphreys for Progressland Person

By Aletta Singley
Staff Writer

CURWENSVILLE - Mental and physical challenges are not new for former Curwensville resident Rich Humphreys.

Mr. Humphreys has learned to live with Type I diabetes since he was 14. He said 23 million Americans have diabetes. Of that number, five percent live with Type I diabetes. The chronic and often debilitating disease occurs in children. The victims’ bodies stop making insulin, a substance that controls sugar levels in the blood. As a result, sugar levels swing from high to low levels, greatly affecting the patient’s ability to think and function at times.

In spite of his medical challenge, Mr. Humphreys is currently hiking 380 miles from Camp Ho Mita Koda in Newbury, Ohio to his home in Kirkwood, Pa. to raise $100,000 for a much needed parking lot and new tennis courts.

Mr. Humphreys is the camp director.

"I didn’t know what reaction my body would have to the hike," said Mr. Humphreys as he trained for the experience.

He has embraced physically challenging activities all his life but this hiking experience put increased demands upon the constant blood sugar monitoring as well as the need to take insulin injections and glucose tables to keep the blood sugar levels normal.

"I hiked two days back to back for 12 miles each day," said Mr. Humphreys.

The hiking part seemed to be physically enduring but he was not sure he could control his blood sugar day after day while hiking.

This past Monday he said he seems to be doing fine, so far. "I’ve been on the road for about 15 days and have met many wonderful people," he said. "I have not had any bad experiences yet."

He said the blood sugar meter simplifies monitoring his blood sugar levels. "By mid-afternoon, I can tell from my low energy that I need to adjust my sugar level, even without monitoring it," he said.

Mr. Humphreys said he set up his tent for the night near a rural Catholic Church near Oil City during the Labor Day weekend. It is documented as the oldest Catholic Church west of the Allegheny River.

A church custodian arrived on the scene to spray a hornet’s nest. He welcomed Mr. Humphreys into his home for a shower and meal break.

"He gave me directions to the nearest grocery store. As I walked about five miles down the road, he caught up to me and place a large bag of groceries in my hands."

He realized the market was closed due to the holiday and was concerned Mr. Humphreys would not be able to get food.

Mr. Humphreys said he sings "America the Beautiful" while hiking in response to such acts of kindness.

As he walked closer to Curwensville, neighbors and friends have extended their generosity to him.

Doreen and Jack Beard offered their camp in Luthersburg as a stopping place for the night. They said they have known Mr. Humphreys since he was a child. "He was our neighbor," said Mrs. Beard.

"He has a wonderful way with children and is a great story teller," she said.

"Whenever Mr. Humphreys visits Curwensville he invited the children at church take a Rails to Trails hike in the afternoon. He tells them about the trees and wildlife living along the path," said Mrs. Beard.

Mr. Beard said Mr. Humphreys is a great, easy going person.

"His attitude is if you are going to fight diabetes, you must be in good physical shape and really work at it. The message he is trying to relay to diabetics with his walk is Don’t sit around. If you do you will die."

The Reverent Arlene Beechert recently set out her hiking boots during Mr. Humphreys’ visit. The congregation is filling them with monetary donations to support his walk for the camp. She said they have collected more than $350.

Mr. Humphreys said the camp is only about a three and one half hour drive from Clearfield County. "It gives diabetic children a great chance to experience the fun of summer camp with others who are experiencing similar medical problems."

With a close watch on his own medical problems and sugar levels, Mr. Humphreys expects to arrive home in Kirkwood on Sept. 30 or Oct. 1.

His children are expected to join him for part of his hike near Lewistown.

Mr. Humphreys said people may check his progress online at www.CampHoMitaKoda.org.

Donations payable to the camp may be sent to 'Rich’s Walk' c/o Camp Ho Mita Koda, 3601 S. Green Rd., #100, Cleveland, Ohio 44122.

Step by step Rich Humphreys is hiking 380 miles from Camp Ho Mita Kido in Newbury, Ohio to his home in Kirkwood, PA. in an effort to raise funds to benefit the camp created in 1929 to serve children with diabetes. Mr. Humphreys, now 62, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was 14 years-old. He serves as a camp director for children faced with the challenges of the disease. His walk emphasizes the need for diabetics to be physically active and to psychologically challenge themselves to do their best. Mr. Humphreys, right, recently paused on the Clearfield-Curwensville Rail Trail with a local hiking buddy, Stephen Confer, Clearfield and his dog, Macey.