The HEADINGS, Inc. is Proud to "Support"
Linda Chapman, a Black Lung Widow, who
WALKED over 500 MILES to Washington D.C. to help bring attention
to the devastating affects of Black Lung Disease!
click on image to view larger picture
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Contact Linda at (304)927-2070 |
Linda's Itinerary Phone Interviews and pictures... |
Want to Donate to the "Widow's Walk"? |
We need volunteers to follow in a vehicle, and places for them to stay. Can you help? |
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News Articles about Linda, Black Lung.... |
Want us to post your story about Black Lung? contact us. |
Together, we can make a difference!
We called Linda and offered our assistance in helping her get the word out about the devastating affects of Black Lung. She (age 44) and Phyllis Tipton (age 53) headed out on March 15th began their walk to Washington D.C. and arrived right on schedule! They averaged 20 miles per day.
Although they reached their destination, the journey for BLACK LUNG BENEFITS is not over. There are many obstacles to overcome and many more miles to travel until this issue is resolved. We need your support, which can be just a letter of encouragement, a personal testimonial of the devastating affects of black lung, a simple e-mail, a picture of a loved one who has died from this insidious disease, or the posting of a memorial for a fallen comrade. There has been tremendous media regarding Linda's walk. Don't let it end at the bottom of an article. As more is done, the media will continue to do follow up stories. Help us keep the momentum.
Due to Linda's overwhelming schedule, it was difficult for her to keep us posted daily. We have many phone interviews that will take some time to convert. Also, she is currently typing the daily journal she kept as she walked, which will be posted soon. We also have a bunch of photos and articles that will soon be posted.
Send us an email, to show your support and journey with the Black Lung Widows as they walk into history!
Want to help by donating needed funds?
Send your check or money order to:
National Black Lung Association
PO Box 632
Royalton, Illinois 62983
Be sure to make a note on the check or money order that it is for the
"Widows' Walk"
Please read their articles to learn more about these courageous women! We will be doing regular phone interviews and posting the sound files and images here to help chart their progress. We ask that you check back often so you can share their experience!
If you have a story to share about Black Lung, please contact us at blacklung@knowareland.com
If you are interested in having us post a Memorial, including text and images, online for your loved one, please contact us.
Special note of thanks to Jim Cooper of the Roane County Reporter and Brian Bowling of the West Virginia Daily Mail for writing such excellent articles, which have helped bring important attention to the Black Lung problem. Also, thanks for the follow up articles regarding Linda's website! Thanks also goes to ALL the news reporters and photographers who have helped spread the word!
Their Itinerary - Walk Calendar
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 3/15/02 | 3/16/02 | 3/1702 | ||||
| 3/18/02 | 3/19/02 | 3/20/02 | 3/21/02 | 3/22/02 | 3/23/02 | 3/24/02 |
| 3/25/02 | 3/26/02 | 3/27/02 | 3/28/02 | 3/29/02 | 3/30/02 | 3/31/02 |
| 4/1/02 | 4/2/02 | 4/3/02 | 4/4/02 | 4/5/02 | 4/6/02 | 4/07/02 |
| 4/08/02 | 4/09/02 | 4/10/02 | 4/11/02 | 4/12/02 | 4/13/02 | 4/14/02 |
| 4/15/02 |
*Photo Credit - Tony Lane, Photographer, a UMWA miner in Pennsylvania works underground at the Maple Creek Mine.
*Bob Phalen - Charleston Rally |
*Carlo Tarley - Fairmont Rally |
*Cecil Roberts, Linda Chapman in Union Town, PA |
*Stopping for a minute during walk |
*Linda Chapman at Charleston Rally |
*Crowd at Charleston Rally |
*Linda with Easter Bunny! |
*Linda at Fairmont Rally, WV |
*Linda at Fairmont Rally, WV |
*Fairmont Rally, WV |
*Fairmont Rally, WV |
*Linda Chapman at Fairmont Rally, WV |
*Peggy Coleman at Charleston Rally |
The phone interviews with Linda can be heard below, on each day. You can listen to it while online (it uses Windows Media Player) or download the sound files to listen to on your computer when you are offline. Some of the files are quite large and may take a while to download, so please be patient.
From Morgantown to Uniontown. Halfway to Washington D.C.. The Widows Walk now has national coverage.
Day 12 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
From Fairmont to Morgantown, almost at the half way point.
Day 11 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
From Clarksburg to Fairmont. Linda and Phyllis had some good help from a couple of people along the way, they told Linda about a trail that runs along by the river, it helped a lot as it was flat and they didn't have to worry about traffic. Linda also helped out another person today, she is letting an Assistant Manager at her job stay in her house after theirs was destroyed by a mud slide.
Day 10 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
From Weston to Clarksburg
Day 9 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
They didn't get to walk this day because of the bad weather, but they did get some good news about Kentucky legislators.
Day 8 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
Made it to Weston.
Day 7 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
Apparently mother nature has decided this would be a good time to take care of the drought problem we've been having here in WV, but luckily Linda and Phyllis didn't get into too much high water. They did have to take some alternate routes though, so they were delayed a little.
Day 6 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
Day 5 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
Day 4 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
3/17/02 Linda called in for her nightly report. It rained most of the day. She said Phyllis had a small stone in her tennis shoe that she didn't notice, which turned into a real bad blister. At mile six, Phyllis realized the blister became a blister on top of another, then broke open and bled. Linda was concerned and asked her to ride in the truck, but Phyllis said "I'm not a quitter". Phyllis walked another four miles, before she stopped for the day. Linda is blessed to have a such a wonderful walking partner! Hang in there Phyllis....We're Cheering for you!
Day 3 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
3/16/02 Linda called in late tonight, exhausted but exuberant! She said they were tired and sore, and named their first blister "George". I will try and post more info about their first two days on 3/17/02, as well as including their first interview. GOD BLESS!
Day 2 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
3/15/02 Linda's First Day on the Road!!! Brian Bowling of the WV Daily Mail covered the story.
Day 1 phone interview: Online streaming audio format Download the sound file
Basic info about Black Lung: Coal workers' pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung, is caused by the inhalation of coal dust. An estimated 4.5 percent of coal miners are affected; about 0.2 percent have scarring on the lungs, the most severe form of the disease. Between 1968 and 1990, more than 59,000 deaths were attributed to black lung disease, an average of 2,460 per year.
If you would like to learn more about this disease, please view one or more of the following web sites: