Walk for health care

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - This one doctor was inspired by the need. So he's walking 700 miles in support of health care for everyone.

700 miles from Chicago to Washington D.C.

"I said well maybe I'll walk there," said Dr. Ogan Gurel.

Dr. Ogan Gurel was fed up with the big time politics.

"Saw a lot of the special interests saw a lot of the medical industry lobbyists really focusing on their own particular interests and not on the big picture and health care is about people," said Dr. Gurel.

That's when he got the idea to take his cause to the streets.

"Ii lost my job in 2002, a job of 22 years," said one local person struggling to deal with health care issues.

Each step has meaning for Dr. Gurel. Each step is a different story he feels compelled to tell to the legislators in Washington.

"Aside from the pain in my feet its very painful stories I'm hearing, and I'm literally bearing witness to a natural catastrophe," said Dr. Gurel.

It's a 29 day, 29 stop, 25 mile-a-day trek that spans seven states to hear the stories of the uninsured and the insured.

"Gentleman, U.S. citizen not with insurance, triple bypass surgery costs $118,000 here, he went to India to have the operation," said Dr. Gurel.

Stories many want and need told.

"I believe nobody should have to go bankrupt for necessary medical procedures, tests, drugs, even regular checkups," said Michelle Bandor, she struggles with insurance costs.

Only seven stops in, Dr. Gurel continues to walk documenting each story in his book to show to the people in Washington.

"I think by the end of the walk there will be literally hundreds of documented stories to share with lawmakers there," said Dr. Gurel.

Dr. Gurel's trip will end in Washington D.C. on July 26th. You can learn more about his walk by clicking on  walk4healthcare.org

Also, one interesting note; Dr. Gurel, like 50 million other Americans, does not have health insurance because he is self-employed.