Ε Ξ Ω ΦΥΛ Λ Ο
Pancretan Association of America in Akron. I prepare a Power
Point presentation with images of the E4, the Samaria Gorge
and photos of food lines, the homeless, poorly funded medical clinics and all the other traumas inflicted upon Greece by
the tough economic policies pressed by international bankers
and foreign officials. Seeking the blessings of the PAA, I ask
the delegates to endorse this project. I am delighted that they
understand what I want to do and pleased that they vote to
support “Walk the Gorge.”
COVER STORY
Left: Although it was tempting because of the excessive
heat that day, no one rode a donkey out. Everyone walked
the entire length of the Gorge.
FALL 2013
videos of people who have made the same trek across the
spine of Crete.
For some reason, everyone I approach with this idea either laughs at the proposition or is stunned that I would even
consider such a thing.
As the last days of winter start to warm up with early
signs of spring, I know I have to adjust my thinking if there
will be any chance to move forward with this idea.
SPRING 2013
Perhaps it is the spartan menu of the Lenten season, which
inspires a reduction to the scope of my vision: just trim a twoweek trip (which no one wants to do) down to a one-day hike
most can do, but still includes a gesture toward the E4 trail. My
thinking is simplistic.
The E4 extends across the Omalos Plateau in western
Crete and touches the entrance to the Samaria Gorge. The
resulting plan is to “walk” along the E4 by hiking the Samaria
Gorge—one of the most popular tourist sites on Crete—as a
one-day fundraiser.
I approach the same people who rejected the original E4
hike with the idea of walking the Samaria Gorge. “Hmmm.
That may work,” summarizes the responses I am starting to
get. Encouraged, I begin work on the details: how to put together a trip; how to promote it; who to network with; all sorts
of things that must get done to make this a successful event.
What better place to share the newly named “Walk
the Gorge” project than at the National Convention of the
With the help of a colleague, work starts on the website for
“Walk the Gorge.” It is not an easy job, but after three months
of labor www.walkthegorge.com is completed.
Getting the word out and the task of convincing people to
make the commitment to spend their vacation in Greece as
part of a fundraising event are the next agenda items.
WINTER 2014
By Christmas, several friends decide that going to Crete in
the summer would make for a great vacation. Being a part
of a fundraiser would be an even nicer way to spend time in
Greece. Within the first couple of months of the New Year,
five persons register on the website to be walkers. By the
end of March, the online donations extend over $4,000. Anticipating that this project will raise enough funds to be respectable, I contact Evangeline Alpogianis, chair of the PAA
Philanthropic Fund, to learn what charities on Crete it is supporting. She is very helpful with that information, and I start
communicating with these groups to set up appointments
when I am in Greece.
SPRING 2014
By Easter, there are 15 persons signed up and donations
keep coming in. In April, the online tabulation is just under
$10,000. We are even getting a few donations from persons
in other countries. In early June, there is a concerted effort
by walkers to “shake the sponsorship tree” and online donations break the $20,000 mark. A few more persons register,
so that by the time people start leaving for Greece in midJune the tally of registrants reaches 20 persons representing Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, New York and the
District of Columbia. Of that number, 11 are PAA members,
their families or Greek-American friends; the rest are nonKPHTH | WWW.PANCRETAN.ORG
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