Published: March 04, 2007 08:49 pm      

The Extra Milers: Zak Leffler

“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained.” — Winston Churchill

Being an “Army brat” — an endearing term — meant I didn’t grow up with extended family nearby.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were the wonderful people we visited during summer vacation and Christmas holidays. Two brothers and parents were my only day-to-day family.

Although my brothers and I had more than our share of spats, we could always count on one another for support. Still do, even though we are now living in three different states. Life doesn’t stop when your extended family is spread out across the country; however, it can get pretty lonely.

Extra Miler Zak Leffler is a 22-year-old who believes that much of his joy in life comes from the togetherness of his large extended family. He is blessed with both a geographically and emotionally close family and he doesn’t take this fact for granted. This is his story of family.

Doug Drake — the chairperson for the 2006 Floyd County American Cancer Society Relay for Life — recently told me of the amazing people who spent the night walking for a cancer cure, the dedicated volunteers, the sponsors and contributors and Highland Hills Middle School Principal Gary Hutton — who allowed the Relay to be transferred to their school track on short notice. He then began telling a story of a young man that I immediately recognized to be an Extra Miler.

Drake was intrigued by this young man who appeared to be walking the track throughout the entire Relay event. Since the Relay began at 3 p.m. May 19 and ended at 9 a.m. May 20, Drake thought he must be mistaken. After all, the event lasted 18 hours.

He caught up with the dedicated walker, Zak Leffler, during the final hours of the Relay, and spoke to him just long enough to confirm he had been walking all night.

Drake commented, “It was clear that Zak was exhausted and in great pain from walking all night. He is an inspiration for all of us.

“To have a young person so dedicated to understanding what Relay is all about and to understand the effect cancer has not only on the patient, but family, friends and the community is unique and deserves recognition.”

Drake explained that Zak’s efforts during the walk reminded him greatly of the ordeal cancer patients endure while undergoing chemotherapy, explaining that Zak sacrificed rest and comfort for a significant period of time. The similarities between the toll of chemotherapy and Zak’s physical response to 18 hours of nonstop walking seemed clear to Drake.

“This young man put his body through conditions similar to what a cancer patient might endure: pain, lack of sleep, and physical exhaustion,” he said.

Zak Leffler walked with his family, the Memory Miles for Moe team — featured as Extra Milers last month. It came as no surprise to me that a member of this family would beam brightly as an individual Extra Miler at the Relay event.

Zak responded in a very matter-of-fact tone when asked why he walked all night.

I wanted to do this last year, but the event was called off after just over 3 hours, so this was going to be my year to walk throughout the event,” he said.

The walk first started out as a bet with Zak’s sister, Shea. He put out a challenge that he could walk longer in the Relay; however, that night it became evident that the walk was about much more than the challenge — it was about family.

Shea Leffler is extremely proud of her brother.

“I wanted to walk 80 laps and Zak was going to walk 120, but my knee gave out and I had to stop at 70,” she said. “I woke after sleeping for a while and was surprised to see Zak still walking. Everyone was encouraging him to keep going.”

When asked what motivated the brother-sister team to push through pain and keep walking, Shea responded, “We both kept thinking of the pain cancer patients endure day after day … the kind of pain our Uncle Moe must have felt. We knew their pain is much greater than anything we could experience in the Relay.”

Zak, a senior at IU Southeast in New Albany, added that he walked all night for family togetherness and to help in the effort to find a cure for cancer. It seems cancer can take either extreme, either pulling a family together or tearing them apart. There was at least one family member walking and talking with Zak for each and every 124 laps (31 miles). The Leffler siblings and the Memory Miles for Moe team raised approximately $10,000 to beat cancer.

Prior to the Relay, Zak had never walked or run more than 2 to 3 miles at one time.

“I didn’t know if I could do it. The pain was a lot worse than I thought it would be, but my family kept me motivated and gave me the power to keep going.”

Zak worried his body would let him down and his knees would give out, but his heart had something else in mind. Zak Leffler was focused on a clear goal and the joy of being together with family.

Zak was one of thousands of walkers across the United States who have walked or will soon walk to beat a disease that has taken far too many of our loved ones from us far too early in their lives. A loving family is indeed a great virtue and our Extra Miler Zak Leffler is well aware of that power.

KINDNESS TIP OF THE MONTH: We just missed Mother’s Day, but will be just in time for Father’s Day, June 18. Help your children create Father’s Day cards and take them to the local nursing homes or rehabilitation centers.

This would make a simple project for neighborhood friends or any group of children. All you need is construction paper and crayons. There are over 25 facilities for the sick or elderly in Southern Indiana. For a facility near you, consult the phone book or contact the Chamber of Commerce at 812-945-0266.

Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and president of a national training and consulting company, EEO Guidance, Inc . If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an extra miler, let us know about it. To submit a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via email: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or send mail to: The Extra Milers, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130-3340.