150 Head South of the Border in Fund-Raising Walk-a-Thon

As he made his way up Sepulveda Pass, Bill McLaughlin said his legs felt good, despite having walked to Encino from Woodland Hills.

The bad news was that, even as he was crossing the Santa Monica Mountains, McLaughlin still had about 150 miles to go. He and 150 or so fellow walkers are headed to Tijuana, taking part in the 16th annual eight-day walk-a-thon to raise money for Los Ninos, a volunteer organization based in San Ysidro that assists poor families living across the border in Mexico.

The walkers set off Sunday morning from Louisville High School in Woodland Hills carrying lots of water, sunscreen and other preparations--such as extra socks and Vaseline to fight blisters.

Organizers said the walk will raise an estimated $100,000 for Los Ninos through donors who sponsor the walkers.

McLaughlin, a 62-year-old financial consultant and a Los Ninos board member who had signed up $15,000 in sponsors, was one of the old hands, having made the walk 14 straight years.

“Vaseline gets too messy,” McLaughlin said. “The best thing to do is just be in shape. You have to practice for this. Unless you practice, you’ll be in a lot of pain. And each year, you see a lot of people in pain.”

But on Sunday, it was too early for complaints. The walkers, who had traversed several miles of Ventura Boulevard before heading south on Sepulveda Boulevard, stayed in a tight pack, talking together and swapping jokes.

While McLaughlin spoke from experience, others, such as Mariah Gayler, 14, of Del Mar, were on their first walk for Los Ninos.

“I heard it was interesting,” she said, a touch of uncertainty in her voice as she surveyed the rising hill ahead of her. “I heard that by the end, you know everybody and everybody is friends. I think I’ll make it. I hope it will be fun.”

The hikers walk only during daylight hours, stopping at night to sleep at churches and schools along the way. The group, which had a police escort through the San Fernando Valley, is scheduled to arrive in Tijuana on Sunday.

Tammy Fishback, coordinator of the walk for Los Ninos, said many who take part use their vacations from work and often come back year after year to make the long trek.

“There is a lot of dedication,” Fishback said. “Some are getting blisters already, but they are still walking.”

The money raised will help Los Ninos provide health, education, literacy and family garden programs in low-income neighborhoods in the border towns of Tijuana and Mexicali, Fishback said.

Most of those who began the arduous journey Sunday said their immediate goal was making it to Tijuana. But they also spoke of a larger goal, that of helping the disadvantaged.

“I want to reach out to those less fortunate than me,” said Pam Stout, 47, who traveled from San Jose to take part in the walk.

Bringing up the rear on the climb up Sepulveda Pass was 22-year-old Robert Cooke of Venice. He was limping already, with seven days still to go. But he said he would make it to Tijuana, just like he did last year.

“I’m beat,” he said. “But I’m still going. These are good people. This is a good thing.”