Walk for Life
DEATH VALLEY WALK FOR LIFE
A story of Trial & Triumph
by Sharon Funck & Barb Taylor
Sharon Funck’s Story:
It was June 1980, and I was excited about a weekend trip on the back of my friend’s Goldwing motorcycle, but I was not that excited about going to Death Valley. After all, what could be there except dirt, cactus and extreme heat?
Since it was summer, the beach sounded much better to me! After a long day’s ride to one of the hottest places on the planet, we motored into Furnace Creek on highway 190. It was 116 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was sore from being on the motorcycle for more than eight hours. It wasn’t long though before my distress vaporized into the warm air, as the silent beauty of Death Valley overwhelmed my spirit.
The colors of the desert, beautiful mountains, wide open spaces, and clean air won my heart, and I somehow realized Death Valley would become my new home. We had a cold drink at Furnace Creek Inn and enjoyed the breathtaking view of the desert floor. The Inn was built in 1932 and still had the charm of the past.
Four years later, I came back to Death Valley, having accepted a job as a breakfast cook. Four-thirty each morning came early, but I did not care, for I had reached my goad of living in Death Valley. I had a little cabin, the swimming pool, and two free meals each day. After raising a wonderful daughter, this carefree lifestyle felt mighty good to me.
Hiking the hidden mountain canyons and exploring the expansive desert kept my days and nights filled with beauty and awe. Tourist visitation was very slow in the summers, so employees could take the summers off. I would save my money for seven months, travel for five, come back and unlock my cabin, and start the pleasurable process over again. I traveled around Europe, Thailand, Jamaica, and the United States. I could never take journeys like that without living this lifestyle.
One thing I was afraid of was sleeping alone in the desert. I would go into the desert by my cabin, then the first coyote or scorpion I heard or saw would immediately cause me to pack up and hightail it for home. In order to overcome this, I decided that I would walk to Stovepipe Wells village, which was 24 miles northwest, and camp half way. This would force me to confront my fears head-on. No matter how scared I became, I could not get back home.
The day before my decisive hike, I put a gallon of water every five miles, and a sleeping bag and water 12 miles up the road and a mile into the desert. The next day, I left the ranch at seven in the morning, and started walking apprehensively towards my camp. Once I reached my overnight area, I settled in for the evening. I did not sleep much, but at the very least, I made it this far. Twelve more miles tomorrow and the trial would be over.
On the second day, I got up, walked the remaining 12 miles to Stovepipe Wells, laid in bed and cried. It was 112 degrees outside. I am a short and chubby lady, and my body was definitely hurting, but I was very proud of my achievement.
What this did for my spirit and love of the land was significant enough that I continued doing this two-day walk every year during the first weekend in May for the next ten years. By this time, things had changed in Death Valley. European visitors were traveling here in the summer, so employees had to work year-round. That was okay however, because in 1998, I met and married a wonderful man.
He was the plumber here, and he also enjoyed Death Valley and the lifestyle. When my new husband learned about my walk, he was ready to do it with me, and became a little disappointed when I told him that I had to keep doing this by myself. I had to be alone out there. In spite of this, he was such a great guy that he would check on me, bring me meals, and encourage me.
In 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer. Because of surgeries and treatments, I could not do the walk that year. My daughter, Stacia, surprised me and did the walk for me, only two weeks earlier than my usual time. She did very well on the walk, but said she would never do it again. She also added that I was crazy!
Because they could not do it on my usual weekend, Paulette Helms, Barb Taylor, Lorraine McGowen, and three other employees did the walk on the first weekend in May. I will never forget the feeling of watching these six women walking in my place. That started it all. The walk went from friends showing me support, to the Death Valley Walk for Life.
Now, several years later, we still do the walk, but we’ve started an official non-profit organization, with the goal to raise money through bake sales, golf tournaments, silent auction, and donations. We give emotional and financial support to help employees of Death Valley fight cancer.
It is a five hour round trip drive to Las Vegas. One of my treatments was five days each week for five weeks. With expenses of gasoline, rooms, and food, it was a heavy financial burden. As the walk became popular, it grew from the original six walkers to 70 participants last year. I have been truly touched at how amazing and generous people can be in times of need.
Paul Taylor said it best when he wrote: “When one person gets cancer, a whole community of friends, family, and co-workers are affected, and must find ways to cope. The walk helps not only the ones fighting the cancer, but also their friends who are at a loss on how to deal with the possibility of losing someone they love.”
Our general manager is very supportive, and has started a golf tournament, which will be April 10th this year. All the managers are supportive, and we could not do it without their help and ideas. We have people from all over the United States walking, including folks from the east coast. We carry a scroll from Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells with names of people who are currently fighting, have survived, or have passed from cancer.
After the first day’s walk, we enjoy a meal together at our overnight camp, and have a candle lighting ceremony to honor those on the scroll. We also do little things like foot bathes and massages, and sitting around comparing blisters.
It took my daughter a few years to change her mind, but last year, she and her family did the walk with us. Between the fund raising, and all that has to be done to get ready for the walk, it takes a lot of work. I have a wonderful committee that does so much. My vice president is Barb Taylor. She was one of the original six, and I would now like for her to tell you her view of the walk.
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Barb Taylor’s words:
Hello. This is Barb, and I am one of the people who did not know what to do when Sharon told me she had cancer. I’ve had family members with cancer, and none of them are here anymore. Not knowing what to say to Sharon, I just stayed away. I didn’t come to her house at all because I was so at a loss on what to say.
So when some of her friends were talking about how Sharon couldn’t do her walk, the idea hit us that we could do it for her. It was a perfect way for me to do something for Sharon that I knew would really touch her heart. On that first walk, she rode in her van up and down the highway, encouraging us, and spent the night out in the desert, bringing us pizza for dinner.
The next day, Sharon had to go to Las Vegas for a cancer treatment, but she tearfully told us how much it meant to her. I couldn’t believe she was the one comforting us, but she did. Months later, when she was finally cancer-free, and celebrating her new chance at life, she told me how she wanted to help others with the expenses of living 120 miles from the nearest doctor, and trying to pay for gasoline and rooms when you can’t work.
When a few people wanted to keep doing the walk, we decided to have bake sales to raise monty, and it kind of grew from there. We have lots of support from Xanterra Resorts, the company we work for, and I’m constantly amazed at all the people who want to help us just because it makes them feel so good. I believe that the Death Valley Walk for Life brings out the best in people, and lets them shine. I’m really proud to be a part of this organization, and can’t even describe the way I feel when one of our friends fighting cancer says we’ve made it easier for them. It feels good to know how much we can help others!
Except for the actual walking, the walk is a lot of fun. I’m not in the best shape, but I wouldn’t trade doing this for anything. We all seem to bond by the second day, because we share a sense of accomplishment, whether we set out to do one mile or the entire twenty-four. It’s not a race, and you can choose how many miles you want to do. There are plenty of support vehicles and we even have a port-o-potty on wheels, donated to us from Joe’s Sanitation.
Oh, and the frozen oranges that we get on the way keep you from wondering what you’re doing walking in 100 degree heat, silently calling Sharon bad names, and wondering how you can pay her back. So, if that sounds like fun, we would love to have you join us!
You can contact Sharon directly from our website, or register to participate in this year’s walk at http://www.deathvalleywalkforlife.org. I hope you like our story, and maybe we’ll see you there! Love, Barb
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Sharon Funck and DVJ publisher Steve Greene, October 2009 at the Wrangler Steakhouse, celebrating Steve's tricycle expedition. Photo by the incomparable Jack Freer (what an evening!)
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