By CHERYL KEMPIAK

Hundreds of Maine West students joined the 65,000 other hikers in participating in the "Hike for the Hungry" on Sunday, May 3. The hikers raised a total of $1,504,202 in pledges to help feed the hungry in the United States and all over the world.

One of the most important aspects of the "Hunger Hike" was that it opened people's eyes to the fact that there are people dying of starvation every day. With this concern the hunger problem can be solved.

The hikers were armed with peanut butter sandwiches, lemonade, cookies, ice cubes, crackers, oranges, extra socks, foot powder, adhesive tape, 70 degree weather, and lots and lots of enthusiasm.

Each check point was equipped with voluntary medics, tables of food, walk‑card punchers, and soft, green grass to rest tired feet. To break the monotony of walking, some of the marchers were different and ran the whole 30 miles.

Ken Kovar '71 was among the five cross country runners to finish first in the hike Sunday. Ken ran the distance in a little over four hours. Six hours later, Roberta Good '71 came struggling in after she had time to catch her breath. Roberta commented, "It was long, hard, and tiring; but even in the shape I'm in, I can still say it was really worth it."

The money raised isn't to be used for hand‑outs; it's all being given to self‑help projects, including "Poor People's Co‑Ops," which is owned and run by poor people, allowing them to purchase food at minimum prices; the American Indian Center, a day care recreational center for Indian Youth; and the Northwest Suburban Day Care Center for Des Plaines children.

It is also for the Marillac House, which is a baby feeding program, to hopefully feed at least 100 undernourished infants, and the Direct Charge Co-Op, grocery stores where shareholders can get food cheaper.

Internationally, the hike will serve the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, a selfhelp program for the Columbian peasants. Finally, some of the funds will be given to "Meals for Millions," an educational program for individuals to learn how to produce multi‑purpose food and transmit this education to their native countries.