THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 1, 1995 TAG: 9507010508
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELE SNIPE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Armed with his kayak, paddle and some food, Tim Rambo set out to deliver a message.
His message carried him through 550 miles of ripples, currents and waves. Through the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, Rambo traveled from Savannah, Ga., to Norfolk - by kayak and by himself.
``I can't believe it's over. I'm excited to be here,'' Rambo said, shedding his life preserver after climbing from his kayak Thursday.
The 30-year-old Charleston native traveled for 37 days to raise money and awareness of the psychological and social effects of cancer.
``There are quality of life issues that affect cancer patients and their families,'' he said, after arriving at Nauticus promptly at 3 p.m, as planned. ``There should be psycho-social counseling at medical centers.''
Rambo spent two years volunteering at the Cancer Patient Support Program at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, while studying for a master's degree in counseling from Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
CPSP is affiliated with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest.
So far, he's raised $2,500. ``But hopefully it's still coming,'' Rambo said shortly after replacing his life preserver with a T-shirt advertising his sponsors.
Some of his sponsors are Sprint Cellular, Pro Canoe and Kayak, and the Wilderness System, whose president took a strong interest in Rambo's mission.
Pat DeChatelet, associate director of CPSP, said, ``We hope he'll raise enough money for us to buy a computer.''
With the most up-to-date information about cancer, the $10,000 computer would be put into a resource room for patients and their families to use.
``It was Tim's idea to raise awareness,'' she said, ``and he chose to do it by kayaking.''
Rambo kayaked in southeast Alaska and loved it. ``It is the most simple and natural way to travel,'' he said.
``People have been paddling boats for thousands of years,'' he said, shrugging as if his accomplishment was nothing to be applauded.
Throughout his travels, which began May 24, the lean-bodied Rambo said he averaged 25 miles a day, most without a hitch.
``I knew that being on the water would be a great thrill and that the scenery would be beautiful,'' he said. ``But the greatest surprise was the kindness of strangers.''
Several people offered Rambo food and a place to stay during his adventure.
He was forced off the water only once around South Carolina when hurricane Alison made the water choppy and hard to navigate.
Bad weather was not the only thing that got him to leave the his wet world. ``I took a couple of nice days off,'' said the copper-red Rambo smiling.
His goal was to travel the Carolina coast. He chose Norfolk as a destination because ``it's a good landmark,'' he said.
Rambo's objective in Norfolk is ``to get horizontal,'' he said with a touch of relief.
He is staying at the Marriott Hotel, which has offered to put him up at no charge. His brothers will be in town Sunday to drive Rambo back to North Carolina.
Although he hopes that donations will continue to flow into CPSP, Rambo emphasized that any increase in public awareness resulting from his journey is good enough for him. MEMO: TO DONATE
Those interested in making a donation to the Cancer Patient Support
Program can send them to:
Cancer Patient Support Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center of WFU,
Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1082 ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN, Staff
Kayaker Tim Rambo, 30, made landfall at Nauticus Friday afternoon
after traveling for 37 days and 550 miles in a sea kayak to raise
money for cancer research. So far, he has raised $2,500.
by CNB