Walker raises organ-donor awareness

With a 70-pound backpack strapped to his 57-year-old body, a South African flag waving behind him, a Granola bar in his front pocket and a spare set of crutches, you needn't ask why Peter Geldenhuys is walking across America.

It's written all over him.

A sign on his back, in bold, red, white and blue letters reads, "Walk For Life -- Become a Body Organ Donor." A toll-free number for organ donor information is advertised across the bottom.

"I'm like a walking circus. I've gone 2,000 miles with this thing on my back," he says as he tries to maneuver his way into a room.

On the front of his long-sleeved t-shirt is a photo of Lauren Banfield, an 8-year-old South African girl who Geldenhuys has yet to meet.

His trip to the United States to promote awareness for bone marrow and organ donations took on another purpose when three days before leaving his country, the grandfather of Banfield, who is suffering from Franconi's Anemia, heard Geldenhuys on a radio interview.

Banfield, who has been through almost 30 blood transfusions already, needs the bone marrow transplant as soon as possible.

She was originally listed on the South African Bone Marrow Registry, but is now on an international registry, said her mother, Jayne Banfield, from their home in South Africa. Her mother said originally there were 10 potential donors, but three were not compatible. She said they are now testing a donor in Germany.

Recalling a phone call from the girl's parents, "If my topic is bone marrow and her need is bone marrow, then why don't I include her in my walk?" Geldenhuys asked.

So far that has meant sending almost $4,000 in money orders back the Lauren Banfield Bone Marrow Transplant Fund in South Africa.

And Geldenhuys still has 500 miles to go.

The $4,000 is only one-tenth of the total $40,000 needed, Geldenhuys said. But in addition to the tens and twenties included in his outgoing money orders, Geldenhuys says money is being sent directly to the fund by people he meets on his walks, or the people who hear of the cause through the media.

Jayne Banfield said checks have been coming from all over the United States.

His trek through Las Vegas the first week of October raised nearly $1,000 for Banfield, Geldenhuys said.

Local Rotary Clubs donated more than half of the valley's contributions. Not only did the local clubs contribute to the fund, but members from the different groups provided Geldenhuys a place to stay three of the nights of his week-long visit.

"Every night I know where I'm going to be, but I don't know where I'm going to sleep," he said.

Geldenhuys walked to Las Vegas from Washington, D.C., where he began his trek on the first of June. His final destination is San Francisco.

Geldenhuys says he walks two miles an hour for 10 hours a day. "In the mornings I'm 57, in the evenings I'm 75," he said jokingly.

An operation eight years ago accidentally severed nerves in his back, leaving Geldenhuys in a back brace and on crutches.

Ironically, it was his new disability that led him to walking. Bound to crutches he said he could no longer continue his job as conductor for the municipal bus system in Johannesburg.

Now in his fifth fund-raising walk, Geldenhuys says he plans to write a book when he returns to South Africa.

DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO: Lauren Banfield BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT FUND P.O. Box 21761 Crystal Park, Benoni

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