Walking Connection Member Profiles
by Patricia Freeman and Patricia Vroom

If you can do it, why aren't you?"
Member, Donna Aversa

That is Donna Aversa's philosophy when it comes to exercise. "I see people doing the most incredible things every day. I went with the Walking Connection to Molokai and we stopped in Honolulu. One morning I hiked up Diamondhead. The hike was wonderful and the view was awesome. But the most wonderful thing about that day was the man I met on the trail who was hiking with a Ranger. He was blind. Now, every time I go for a hike I think of that man," Donna told us with obvious admiration.

Donna joined the Walking Connection about 3 years ago. "I was thinking about a trip with one of those fancy, glossy catalogue tour companies when I saw an ad Gene and Jo Ann had in a Phoenix health publication. I called and got some information about a weekend trip. I thought, 'What the heck,' if it's horrible, at least it will only be one weekend. Next thing I knew I was meeting the wife of some guy named Gene at a restaurant in San Francisco. I walked into the restaurant and 20 people said, 'Hello, Donna!' I had a blast that week-end and I have been traveling with the Walking Connection ever since."

Now almost a "native" of Arizona, having lived in Tucson since she was nine years old, Donna described how she came to the Copper State: "My family is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but we came to Arizona for a vacation at Easter break. Of course it was beautiful. After getting back to Chicago, my parents sold everything, packed me up and moved us all to Tucson in the middle of summer. We stayed anyway."

Donna still lives in Tucson. She graduated from law school at Arizona State University there, and says of her chosen career, "I love being an attorney. I have the good fortune of having a practice that I really enjoy because I have some of the most wonderful clients an attorney could want." Her clientele is rather unique - she is corporate counsel to a number of municipal fire departments!

Her favorite hobby is to travel, but as Donna explained to us, sometimes it can be hard work. "Before I discovered the Walking Connection my travel was limited to places I could convince friends and family that they wanted to go. I took one trip with a friend from college. It was horrible. She whined the whole time and didn't want to do anything other than stay in the room and watch cable TV. That doesn't happen with the Walking Connection. First, there are no whiners. Second, there are different options for people of different interests and abilities," she said with approval. Donna is looking forward to her next trip with the Walking Connection in May to Italy. "I also want to travel to Iceland, so if that sounds good to anyone else, call Gene up and tell him you want to go!" she laughs. "I also want to spend some more time in New Zealand!"

Donna also loves to ride her bike, but she told us that right now she is working very hard to teach one of her family members to jump through a hula-hoop, observing, "I have discovered that he will do anything for a piece of cheese!" She coyly reveals who the cheese lover is, explaining, "I adopted a four-year-old Airedale terrier from the rescue society about a year ago. He was a 'problem dog' and was probably going to be put to sleep if they couldn't find a home for him. I'm really nuts about dogs and I have had Airedales in the past so I had to give this guy a chance. After some doggy therapy and several rounds of obedience training, he has become a fabulous companion. We are starting training next month to get him certified as a 'therapy dog.' This will let me take him into nursing homes and hospitals to visit the patients. Meanwhile, we are still working on the jumping through the hula-hoop trick."

If you happen to meet up with Donna on your travels with the Walking Connection, or as you hike along a trail, you will notice that she is a healthy, robust young woman who looks as though she could and would accept any challenge. Thus, we were surprised to learn that she was not always as physically strong as she is today. She offers this invitation: "If you end up sitting next to me on a long plane ride, ask me about the back brace I wore through junior high school and most of high school. I got stuck in some weird places and one time ended up dangling on a cyclone fence." That sounds like the beginning of a great story, certainly incentive enough to make you want to hook up with Donna on her next international jaunt, when there's plenty of time to let the story unfold. In the meantime, we might all want to apply her philosophy about exercise to life in general -- "If you can do it -- Why aren't you?

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RELEASE: Exercise is only one part of being healthy, seeing your doctor is another! If, at any time during a training session (whether it is a group session, individual personal training session, or self-training session), you suffer any mishap or injury, we urge you to stop your activity immediately and seek professional medical attention. The information contained on this site is intended to give information about personal health and fitness, not to act as a medical manual or guide to self-treatment. Keep in mind that exercise, health and nutritional needs vary from person to person, depending on age, gender, family medical history, current health status, and other individual factors . Before engaging in these, or any other exercise or recreational activities, we urge all individuals to consult a physician. He or she is most-qualified to advise each about your specific health status and needs. By participating in any Walking Connection walk, hike or event, now or in the future, I have and do hereby fully assume all risk of injury, property damage, emotional trauma and death, and it is my intention for me and my heirs, executors and administrators to waive any and all right and claims for damages I may have against Gene and Jo Ann Taylor, Taylor Marketing and Management, LLC., The Walking Connection and any individual associated with these walks, hikes or events, their representatives, successors, and assignees, and will hold them harmless for any and all injuries, mishaps and loss of property suffered in connection with my participation in these walks, hikes, events.