This Cudahy resident walked away from addiction by walking from Green Bay to Cudahy
“Thanks for not running me over."
It's a phrase Greg Studzinski of Cudahy would regularly say with a wave every time a car passed him during his Sept. 1-5 walk from Green Bay to Cudahy.
Studzinski, 44, started Packer 2 Packer 120 to walk away from addiction and raise money for the Milwaukee Street Angels during National Recovery Month. The total listed on the GoFundMe is just shy of $15,000, but Studzinski said that with the addition of a few other checks he raised more than $15,500, blowing by the initial GoFundMe goal of $2,000.
Called the “first responders to a homeless crisis” on their website, Street Angels Inc. is a mobile outreach program in Milwaukee County that offers meals, water, hygiene items, clothes, tents and more to those experiencing homelessness.
Soon to be six months clean from a heroin addiction, Studzinski ended up walking 136 miles over the five days after a hotel cancellation lengthened his trip. The original trip was to be about 120 miles.
A divorce and issues with a business partner led Studzinski into an addiction he said cost him about a decade of his life. After multiple attempts to get clean, it was his decision to finally open up to his support team at the United Community Center, 1028 S. Ninth St., Milwaukee, that helped him succeed.
He first encountered UCC in 2018 or 2019 as his first residential stay. He has gone there twice since.
“They’re the whole reason that I was really doing this,” he said. “I’m indebted to that place. They have a wonderful program with good people. If you go to any place in the city, that’s the rehab you want to go to.”
Studzinski said it was hard to talk about his issues and show weakness, sadness or depression.
“That was the hardest thing for me,” he said. “I’m the father of two little girls, and you’re always supposed to be strong, and nothing’s supposed to be wrong.”
He said if you hide your feelings you may look good on the exterior but on the interior, you aren’t fixing anything.
“The biggest thing is you’ve got to be willing to open up to somebody,” he said.
Firmly on the road to recovery, Studzinski spent two months walking to prepare for his trek across Wisconsin.
On Aug. 31, the night before embarking on his big journey, Studzinski could be found walking around Green Bay, distributing wristbands and flyers for his fundraiser.
Early the next day, he was alone at Lambeau Field wearing a backpack full of gear, ready to get started.
“That morning, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I didn’t know if there’d be people there or if there wouldn’t, and I was pleased that there weren’t.”
While he was physically alone, mentally he was thinking of the many who donated to his GoFundMe, those he met in rehab, those lost and his own path.
“I really soaked in the moment,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and preparing for months. It was emotional, but I was excited to start.”
Before beginning the long walk back to Cudahy, Studzinski set out a painted rock for someone to find near the stadium. It bore the word “HOPE.”
A woman on her daily walk asked him “what’s the pack all about?” so he shared some of his story.
She was the first of many people Studzinski would meet on his journey.
Day 1: 25 miles
“Pace yourself; don’t go too fast,” he told himself.
Most of the walking was on the Fox River Trail. The only companionship was his phone, which was buzzing with well-wishes all day.
Motivated and fresh, Studzinski joked on Facebook Live he would need those motivational messages more on Day 5.
“The first day was hot, and the pack was heavier (than expected),” he said.
When he got to his first hotel, his legs weren’t sore but his arms and back felt the strain.
Day 2: 32 miles
A day mostly on the side of the road meant many thanks directed toward drivers for giving him space to walk.
One couple ran up to him to get a picture. He said they came from the Manitowoc area specifically to find and meet him. The couple gave Studzinski some money, but specified it wasn’t for the fundraiser: “Don’t donate this, get some drinks with it.”
He and the woman became Facebook friends.
Studzinski stopped about halfway through his walk at Spudz in Reedsville to grab a bite. The owner gave him $10, a customer donated $13 and the bartender paid for his lunch.
“That kind of stuff was humbling,” he said.
But the sweetest treat was yet to come at Pine River Dairy in Manitowoc with “the best 50-cent double scoop of ice cream ever.”
Studzinski wasn’t even sure what flavor he was eating; he just knew it was delicious — and was sure to share that fact with his Facebook followers on a live stream.
“You know when you need something, and it’s there? Well, that was that day,” he said, laughing.
The shop was certainly from the Dairyland with nothing but ice cream, cheese and T-shirts for sale.
Day 3: 31 miles
Fifteen miles of rain filled Day 3.
But a friend, Jen Kveton, rode 10 miles on her bicycle to join him. She biked along and kept Studzinski’s spirits up for about 13 miles.
Studzinski’s nurse from the United Community Center and her husband rode their Harley-Davidsons out to meet him. The group enjoyed lunch at Kim’s Five Corners Tavern in Sheboygan Falls.
While the camaraderie rejuvenated Studzinski, he said the final six miles to Random Lake were the hardest of the whole trek, with blisters growing and legs tiring.
Day 4: 30 miles
A friend from recovery, Dustin Wentur, joined Studzinski for about 13 of the daunting miles on Day 4. A high school friend and their wife also met up with Cudahy’s Forrest Gump, who just felt like walking — though he said that with the backpack he felt more like Rambo at the start of "Rambo: First Blood" wandering into town.
An Oak Creek firefighter named John Leanna — a friend from high school — joined in the walk for 25 miles. The group ate at the Shipyard Bar in Port Washington, which opened early for them.
A customer drove Wentur home while Studzinski and Leanna continued the trip.
His mom, Linda Studzinski, brother Curt Studzinski, uncle Al Petrofsky, aunt Kathy Petrofsky, cousin James Stephen and friend Diane Hill came to the hotels most nights in various combinations to pick up gear and leave fresh clothes and drinks. Studzinski dubbed them his "support team."
After a visit from his cousin, Johnny Dix, Studzinski called it a night.
Day 5: 19 miles
The Oak Leaf Trail was a highlight of the last day’s walk. Leanna joined for this whole day as well. Studzinski’s cousin, James Brown, also joined the jaunt for about six miles.
About halfway through the mileage, Studzinski’s phone began to ring like a symphony with people ready to see him cross the finish line.
He wasn’t aware so many would be waiting at Cudahy High School to see him finish the challenge.
A large group of family, friends, even strangers, began to cheer for Studzinski when they saw him turn the corner in his red shorts and “hope dealer” T-shirt.
“I tried hard not to cry,” he said. “Half the people there I didn’t even know.”
A flyover from Air Force One was caught on Facebook Live minutes before Studzinski's arrival at Cudahy High School; he is spotted by the crowd at the 4:50 mark in the video below.
What Greg Studzinski learned
Sometimes people wish they could go back in life, but Studzinski said that’s the wrong mindset.
“I want to go forward in a positive way,” he said. “You reflect on the past, and I kind of started realizing the future can be good if I want it to be.”
From the time he started promoting his walk on July 1 to taking the last steps of the five-day marathon, he lost four friends to the sickness of addiction.
“A couple of those guys that I know would have said, ‘That’s a dumb idea; let me come,” Studzinski said.
Doing the walk not only helped him stay focused on his own recovery and sobriety but opened his eyes to how big an impact one person can make.
“I didn’t think the reach would be what it was,” he said. “I have people who reach out to me every day, still, about loved ones using. I do want to be, I guess, an example of recovery.”
What’s next?
Studzinski is still considering what comes next: a longer walk, possibly a small walk to celebrate recovery, with local vendors and a "recovery picnic." These are all ideas Studzinski is letting simmer until next summer.
He is also considering starting a nonprofit with some friends with a recovery-friendly focus as a go-to place for job services.
More: This new thrift store in Cudahy comes right to your door
When it comes to the Packer 2 Packer 120 Facebook page, he’s not sure about his plans. He is still streaming on the page from time to time and has posted many thanks to his biggest supporters, including donors to the GoFundMe and Pizza Pete’s, which held a fundraiser and donated the profits to the effort.
Studzinski also had a merchandise store at bit.ly/FightAddictionMerch, though that will close soon; proceeds also go to the Street Angels.
After many months of preparation, multiple media interviews and what probably felt like a million miles walked he did have one regret: “My mom came almost every day. I wanted my mom to hear how much I appreciated her on TV.”
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Greg Studzinski walked from Green Bay to Cudahy to raise money
