{"id":10486,"date":"2018-09-26T13:00:11","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T17:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=10486"},"modified":"2018-09-27T18:02:58","modified_gmt":"2018-09-27T22:02:58","slug":"atl-staffer-walks-for-a-purpose-supports-big-cause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/atl-staffer-walks-for-a-purpose-supports-big-cause\/","title":{"rendered":"ATL staffer walks for a purpose, supports big cause"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Airport engineer Mike Mahady plans to complete the 30-mile Georgia 2-Day Walk Sept. 29-30. His supervisor, Eric Hall, said Mahady\u2019s spirit of caring is an inspiration to all.<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Anika Robertson
\nSenior Editor\/Assistant Public Relations Manager<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

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Five years ago, Mike Mahady just wanted to lose weight, but in the process gained fervent passion for a cause that affects more than 266,000 women in the U.S. each year.<\/p>\n

The 71-year-old is determined to participate in his fifth Georgia 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, despite rebounding from a recent hip replacement.<\/p>\n

As lead engineer, Mahady works with Airport facility and project managers to troubleshoot plumbing and fire protection systems operational issues and support the ATLNext design and construction process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such a horrible disease,\u201d the five-year Department of Aviation veteran said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a shame that all these women, mostly women, are plagued with [it].\u201d<\/p>\n

In its 15th<\/sup> year, the Sept. 29 and 30 walk, which raises nearly a million dollars annually to support local breast cancer organizations, assembles more than 1,000 breast cancer survivors, supporters and patients.<\/p>\n

His quest to lose weight began after seeing a picture of himself holding his infant granddaughter. The image prompted Mahady to get serious about increasing his physical activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could barely walk, let alone run marathons!\u201d Mahady recalled.<\/p>\n

The Kennesaw resident began walking three to four miles each morning before work, using a pair of trekking poles for stability.<\/p>\n

One day, Mahady\u2019s wife was tutoring a young man whose mom saw Mahady with the poles. The woman, Kim Shoemaker, encouraged him to walk 30 miles with her team for the 2-Day Walk.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a challenge, Mahady thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think anything about the fundraising, or breast cancer, but took up the challenge,\u201d Mahady said. \u00a0\u201cI was excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t what Mahady expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t expect to be that emotionally involved,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get around all these women, it just grabs you and you can\u2019t let it go,\u201d Mahady said.<\/p>\n

Hearing the stories of survival firsthand from those currently in treatment and others who\u2019ve been cancer-free for decades had a profound effect.<\/p>\n

Mahady finished the first walk in the top 20, feeling great. He began incorporating running into his routine and joined additional area races.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started getting energetic,\u201d Mahady said. \u00a0\u201cWalking just wasn\u2019t enough for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Mahady\u2019s daughters encouraged him to run alongside her in two half-marathons. To date, he has also completed 10 5Ks, one 15K and one 9.9-mile trail run.<\/p>\n

Minor aches didn\u2019t stop Mahady from joining the 2-Day Walk, nor did knee pain from a twist two years ago. He just bought a knee brace and kept moving.<\/p>\n

But in 2017, after a hiking trip through the Grand Canyon with his daughter, Mahady\u2019s hip began hurting. He endured the pain on his fourth 2-Day Walk, clocking 16 miles. He later learned that his right hip and femur were literally grinding together. The damaged joint required a full hip replacement, which took place in May.<\/p>\n

As Mahady rebounds from the recent surgery, he walks with a cane and attends weekly physical therapy sessions. Even if he doesn\u2019t finish the upcoming walk, he wants to take as many steps as possible to support the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a sea of pink,\u201d Mahady said. \u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each year, he raises between $1,000 and $1,500 for the cause.\u00a0 Ninety percent of money raised goes directly to breast cancer programs and survivors in Georgia.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been our most enthusiastic, most passionate walker,\u201d said team captain Shoemaker. She shares her own experience as a nine-year breast cancer survivor in hopes of encouraging others still in the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can help one person, it\u2019s worth it,\u201d she said. \u201cCancer shouldn\u2019t be your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Visit Mike Mahady\u2019s donation page<\/a> on itsthejourney.org<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

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