Walking the volunteer walk

Valerie Gilb literally walks the talk.

Four years ago, she learned that her best friend was diagnosed

with multiple sclerosis. And since then, the Newport Beach resident

has participated regularly in National Multiple Sclerosis Society

walks, outdoing herself when it comes to soliciting sponsorship every

time.

Her first walk with the Orange County Chapter was three years ago,

for which she raised $4,400.

Her second happened a year later, for which she garnered $8,100.

For her annual walk last April in Huntington Beach, Gilb raised

$10,367, officials from the society this month announced. This makes

her the fourth highest fund-raiser for the Orange County chapter, and

an extremely supportive best friend.

‘’She thinks it’s great,’’ the graphic designer said of her

friend. ‘’I told her, ‘That’s what friends are for.’’’

Gilb also raised the money in honor of another friend -- a friend

of her dad’s wife who was diagnosed about two years ago. In her

letter to potential sponsors, who included friends and family and

co-workers, she explained she was participating in the walk for two

close-to-home reasons.

The letter also read ‘’They say the third time is a charm’’ and

that she hoped to break her own monetary record.

‘’I mailed about 120 letters and got about 98 responses back,’’

Gilb said.

The average donation was about $50. She also had a handful of

large donations at about $500 each.

‘’No amount is too small,’’ the walker said. ‘’I receive

everything from a single dollar on up.’’

Gilb walks and swims regularly and is a ‘’kinda average fit

person.’’ She didn’t train separately for the 10K walk, but didn’t

get tired through it either. Her best friend, who lives in Los

Angeles, walked with her the first year, but now walks in L.A.

Gilb was accompanied by three other friends during the six miles.

When asked what she thought about while taking her strides, she

gave a simple answer.

‘’Just that I was doing this for my friend,’’ Gilb said.

-- Story by Young Chang