Martin Berkofsky, KC3RE (left), with Gunther Lazik, DL8UGL, his concert manager in Germany.
Martin Berkofsky, KC3RE (left), with Gunther Lazik, DL8UGL, his concert manager in Germany. |
NEWINGTON, CT, February 17, 2003--Combining music, athletics and Amateur Radio to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, Martin Berkofsky, KC3RE, is set to run from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Arlington Heights, Illinois, this spring and summer. An internationally known concert pianist and music scholar, Berkofsky plans to celebrate his 60th birthday and his recovery from cancer with the 700-mile "Celebrate Life Run." Along the way, he'll operate with a hand-held quad-band transceiver and hopes to contact as many hams as possible on VHF and UHF as he navigates the back roads of the Midwest.
"The plan is to cover 10 miles a day, six
days a week," Berkofsky said. "Of course, there will be days of bad weather and
stubbed toes, but there is more than sufficient time allowed."
 Berkofsky, KC3RE, at the piano. |
The run starts on his birthday, April 9, at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Hospital in Tulsa, where he was treated. Berkofsky expects to reach his destination--the headquarters of the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation in Illinois--in late August. He plans to kick off his run with a free piano concert in Tulsa. He's also set to perform in St Louis while en route as well as to celebrate the end of his run in Illinois.
"All are invited to run along with me for as much or as little as they would please," Berkofsky said, assuring that he'll be managing only "a mild jogging pace." He said he's obtained a copy of ARRL's TravelPlus for Repeaters CD-ROM to determine the locations of repeaters along his route.
Berkofsky will raise funds through donations at his three performances and through per-mile sponsorships from groups and individuals. All proceeds from the events go to the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation. Details on fund raising are still emerging, he noted, and suggested those interested should check the Web site of his Cristofori Foundation. Once the run is under way, Cancer Treatment Centers of America plans to track Berkofsky's progress on its Web site.
 Berkofsky once operated from Iceland as TF3XUU/8, as seen in this photo published in the June 1985 issue of QST. |
Berkofsky wants to operate FM on 6, 2 and 1.25 meters, and 70 cm, while running. "Perhaps local clubs can suggest the best repeater frequencies for each leg of the run," he said. "I suspect I will also be using the simplex calling frequencies and then QSY to an adjacent simplex frequency." Berkofsky is hoping that other hams will be able to help him along his journey. He can be reached via e-mail.
Throughout his life, Berkofsky has enjoyed a parallel fascination with electronics and music. A child prodigy at the piano, he was licensed as a ham in 1957 at age 14, first as KN3HDW and later K3HDW. Berkofsky has performed, taught and operated from more than 25 countries and is renowned in the music world for his Liszt performances and scholarship.
In 1982, he survived a motorcycle accident so
severe that doctors believed his injuries were career-ending. During a four-month
hospital stay and amazing recovery, Berkofsky decided to recast his life and
career, leaving the commercial and political music world to dedicate his
regained abilities to the benefit of others. From that decision was born the
Cristofori Foundation, conceived by Berkofsky as a vehicle to aid and support
charitable and cultural causes through music.
 Previous: Surfin': Hamming With Mac OS X |  Next: ARRL Seeks Computer-Based Multimedia Presentations and Videos |