LOVELOCK - Living along the I-80 corridor, many are accustomed to seeing people walking the highway to bring awareness to one cause or another.
Matthew Helmke is a walker who recently stopped in Lovelock, not trying to bring awareness, he said, but hope.
Helmke was diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma, aka brain cancer, on Sept. 12, 2012. After brain surgery and a grueling chemotherapy regimen that kept him in the hospital five days every two weeks for six months, Helmke says he wanted to give others hope that there is life after cancer and chemo.
"The main reason for this walk is to help others who are going through (chemo) to see that there is an end to it and not to worry things are going to get better," he said. "I can't say they will be walking across Nevada, but there is an end to it. Don't let it get you down."
"Chemo is awful. It's not fun at all," Helmke said.
Bouts of nausea, weakness and mild amnesia were side effects of Helmke's surgery and chemo treatments. He credits his mother and stepfather with keeping him on course, and taking his other medications, eating and exercising during the six month period.
He said he is looking forward to the time when a person diagnosed with cancer can just take a pill to cure it.
Helmke started his walk from Lake Tahoe to Wendover on Sept. 12. On day seven, Sept. 18, he stopped in Lovelock to spend the night in a room donated by the Royal Inn.
"Everyone I've come into contact with has been very supportive," he said.
While in Lovelock Helmke visited Lover's Lock Plaza. Pictures of his visit to Lovelock can be seen on his Facebook page by searching Matt Helmke's Walk Across Nevada.
"Someday I'll come back and put my lock on it," he said.
During his walk he said he has already met many people who have been diagnosed with cancer and are going through their chemo treatments.
"I'm out here just to let people know there is an end to it and things will get back to normal. Just don't give up," he said.
Helmke hopes to be in Wendover before or by Oct. 5. According to his Facebook page, he left Winnemucca on Sept. 23.
Helmke is signed up on the fundraising website www.indiegogo.com, Once on the site, search Matt Helmke to find his campaign. He said that the money raised above his travel expenses will be split between three of his favorite charities; the American Cancer Society, Live Rude Girls and the Fisher House in Salt Lake City.
The Live Rude Girls is a cancer resource group in Elko. On Oct. 5 they will be having a fundraiser at the Elko Convention Center to gather funds to bring the mammogram van to Elko.
"They are a great group. They helped me out a lot in planning my trip. I would be real happy to be able to give them a good donation when I get back," Helmke said.
His other not so widely known charity is the Fisher House located near the VA hospital in Salt Lake City. It is a house that family members can stay at for free while their loved ones are in the hospital. Helmke said he and his parents stayed there while he was going through his chemotherapy.
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