Sixty-one-year-old Phi Delta Theta alum and former Kansas Epsilon Chapter Adviser Roger Heineken is walking the streets of Emporia, exploring Emporia’s past and forming a “deep map” of Emporia as it was in 1868.
Heineken is taking part in the Iron Phi challenge through Phi Delta Theta, which helps raise money for Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS.
“The mission of Iron Phi is to strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members,” Heineken wrote in a blog. “Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and our organization has taken an active role in finding a cure.”
ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Voluntary muscle action is progressively lost when neuron cells die. There is no known cause and there is no cure for the disease. Life expectancy is two to five years after diagnosis. There is a marked difference between ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. ALS does not affect the mind like Alzheimer’s Disease does. Emporia holds a walk each year — Walk to Defeat ALS — which raises money for the Keith Worthington Chapter of the ALS Foundation. This past year, the walk raised more than $37,000.
Through his walk through Emporia and his photo blog on Facebook, Heineken will be raising money for ALS research. His goal is $1,500.
“I know and have known victims of Lou Gehrig’s disease,” Heineken said. “As a Phi Delt alum and former Kansas Epsilon Chapter Adviser, I wanted to do my part to both help the cause but to also set an example for our undergraduates and alumni.”
Emporia: A Deep Map
Heineken’s goal is to honor William Allen White, who also was a Phi Delta member, through his walk through Emporia as it was in 1868. It also is a good time to honor Kansas’ 150th birthday as well, he said.
“Then the town was a mile square, a grid of standard city blocks and street easements,” Heineken said. “Twelve blocks equal a mile. Thirteen streets run north and south and thirteen streets run east and west. To walk the historic town site will approximate 26 miles, the length of a marathon.”
The name of the walk, Emporia: A Deep Map, was inspired by Author William Least Heat-Moon’s walk through Chase County. He then wrote a book, “PrairyErth” based on his walk.
But when all is said and done, Heineken will be walking many more miles than that, he said. On walk one alone he walked 10 miles, he said.
“It’s probably going to be around 40 miles,” he said.
Heineken started his walk on Jan. 1 this year and takes photos documenting his walk. He adds information to the captions.
“As I progress through the city there will be great detail on the life and career of Brother White and on Emporia,” he said.
For Heineken, the walk serves as a way to raise money for ALS but also an educational walk for him and others.
“I’ve lived in Emporia since 1969 and I’m on streets I’ve never been on before,” he said. “As I move through town, I can almost visualize the train depot standing there and the hubbub of the war when people were moving through. My mind’s eye can fill in the blanks of the past.”
He has enjoyed his journey so far and hopes to wrap it up by the middle of March, weather permitting.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Eldon Moore an All American football player at College of Emporia recently passed away with this disease.....Good project!! The Quin Henry Cemetary was located on the College of Emporia Campus.
January 18, 2011 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Buffalo_Breath (anonymous) says...
Don't know all of my "old Emporia" facts so well ... were the original streets South-thru-12th, and West-thru-East? That seems like about the right size for a mile square.
January 18, 2011 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bloomsbury (SC DIXON) says...
Go, Roger, go! A good man doing a great job. Thanks!
January 18, 2011 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pencilguy (anonymous) says...
buffalo breath
yea the original area of emporia is exactly as you described it.
January 18, 2011 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Wow, what a wonderful thing to do. Go Roger!
January 18, 2011 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apierich (anonymous) says...
I have lived in Emporia for almost 5 years now and through that time I have always admired the architecture and history of the town. I would love to have a book that looks even deeper into it, especially if it is raising money for such a good cause.
January 18, 2011 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )