La Cañadan walks the weight off in Fat March

The recent ABC reality series, “Fat March,” sent 12 who shared the common goal of losing weight on a 570-mile walk, crossing through nine states, beginning at the starting line for the Boston Marathon and ending in Washington, D.C. Although their main goal of shedding unwanted pounds and getting fit, there was an extra initiative, a prize pool of $1.2 million to split between the team that crossed the finish line first.

One of the walkers, Wendy Alane Wright, hails from La Cañada. She and her husband, James Smith, own a construction company, Plan-Spec. Wright is also a singer with a new CD titled “As I Am,” in stores and online now.

“I love working the construction business in the daytime, but at night is when I sing,” said Wright. She also works as a back-up singer for other artists including Wayne Brady.

When Wright’s manager, Laura Pallas, heard about the show she called Wright, who was enthusiastic about trying out. She sent in an audition tape and, about one month later, she was notified she would be one of the 12 participants in the show.

“Once I got selected I was so excited,” Wright said. “I knew I was going to get some weight off and have an adventure."

But within the first week, problems arose. After suffering severe foot pain, her doctor diagnosed her with bone spurs and other foot problems. But Wright stuck it out to week five, walking 205 miles from the Boston starting point to the New York state line. At that point the foot pain was too intense and she discovered it could be doing lifelong damage. She made the decision to stop, but maintains she is proud she walked as far as she did.

“How many people can say they have walked 205 miles?” said Wright. And, she did lose some weight. At the starting line she weighed 242; now she is 213.

Now that Wright is home she is concentrating all her efforts on her singing career. Her CD is sold in Lords Flower Shop in Montrose as well as other local retailers. It is also available on line at http://cdbaby.com/cd/wendyalane.

“I am putting a band together and will tour the both the West and East coasts,” Wright said.