Safety was (and continues to be) the primary concern, and at that time in Anchorage, the extensive park and bike trails had not yet been developed.  Providing a safe yet interesting route was a difficult puzzle for the organizers to solve.  Many hours and days were spent driving around Anchorage determining mileage, and trying to space checkpoints.  The logistics involved were staggering.  As nothing of this magnitude had been attempted before in the city, the organizers had to rely on their common sense to try to foresee and forestall any potential problems or dangers.

In addition to meeting the challenges of the physical layout of the route, appropriate nourishment for the walkers had to be considered.  Gallons of kool-aid and peanut butter sandwiches, valued for their protein and energy provision, were made by the thousands and frozen in anticipation of the walk day.  Later, this solution to the food dilemma would cause amusing memories with the early race organizers, as they recalled the difficulty of eating a semi-frozen peanut butter sandwich after having walked 31 miles.  Although well-intentioned, peanut-butter sandwiches were not a helpful food source.  It appeared that alternative food choices would have to be provided.  Through the years other foods were substituted until the early ‘80s when the “great American hot dog” cookies and fruit became the preferred foods for the day.

As the walk day, Saturday, May 2, 1970 approached, people were gearing up and soliciting sponsors city-wide.  The organizers were surprised and pleased at the response they had received from the community.  Thousands of people, many of them children, had volunteered to walk.  The Anchorage Daily Times and the Anchorage Daily News both lent their efforts to help promote the worthy cause.  On May 1, the Daily Times published a front page article claiming the possibility of 3,500 people, an impressive chunk of Anchorage, as walking the following day.  A map of the route was included on the front page and another article appeared on the third page headlined “Fly, Eat or Ride for Hope Cottage(s)?.”  This headline referred to the various ways in which people were participating on Walk day, besides actually walking.  People were using their creativity to raise funds.  According to the article, Jack Griffis, owner of D & J Airlines at Merrill Field, gave rides in a nine-seat twin Beech all day Saturday.  All of his proceeds were donated to Hope.  Pilots donated their time for this cause, and the Alaska Transportation Commission granted the airlines a waiver, allowing them to fly over Anchorage during the walk.

On the Sunday following the walk, the spirit continued with other events scheduled that day.  The Alaska Motorcycle Association planned a “Ride for Hope”, a motorcycle race at the Palmer fairgrounds, donating 50% of the proceeds to Hope.  And to satisfy late night hunger/end of the weekend cravings, Chuck Merillat, owner of two Pizza Huts in Anchorage, staged a “pizza smorgasbord.”  He offered all types of pizzas for $2 per person, and donated 20% of his profits to Hope.  He also issued “Pizza Bucks” worth $1 toward the price of a pizza to each person who completed the 31 miles.  Such community participation and willingness to work for fellow Alaskans was very evident.

The first Walk, estimated to have between 3,500 and 5,000 participants, began with opening ceremonies and registration at 6 a.m. on the Park Strip between C and E Streets downtown.  The actual walking began an hour later, and registration was open until noon, in case people wanted a later start.  Police and emergency medical services ensured the safety of the walkers throughout their long ordeal.  Official cars were patrolling the route to pick people who could not finish the entire distance.  Other volunteer organizations helped with the smoothness of running the walk, also.  The Last Frontier Cycle Club acted as crossing guards at major intersections, and some of the Auxiliary Police Force provided assistance with crowd control.  The Alaska 49ers Citizens Band Radio Club (now known as the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club) also began a long association with the Walk this first year.  They patrolled the route in cars and provided communication links between the 12 designated rest stops along the 31 miles.

The community effort was also apparent in the places designated as rest stops.  Various schools and businesses volunteered their spaces for this purpose.  Rest stops that first year were at the Hope City registration area (Park Strip), Clark Junior High School, Wonder Park School, Rodgers and Babler Construction on Tudor Road, Community College, and the Era Helicopter Hangar at Merril Field, Wendler Junior High School, Hubbard School, National Guard Armory, Sea Airmotive at Lake Hood, Turnagian School, and West High School.

Also, outside of Anchorage, many other Alaskan communities throughout the state pitched in with a variety of fundraising ideas, if not actual walks, to correspond with the Anchorage Walk.

The first walk was a tremendous success.  Over 4,500 people walked, with many more participating in various volunteer capacities, raising $137,000!

This second walk, while not such a blind undertaking for the volunteers, was nonetheless, equally challenging and ultimately, even more successful.  This year, front page newspaper headlines celebrated (over) 11,000 walkers - which was more than the first year and an exceptional representation of the Anchorage community.