|
|
Saturday, June 4, 2005
|
|
The march begins Walters family walking length of state to raise money, awareness of Kinship Partners Senior Reporter The prospect of their feet hitting pavement for 17 days covering 425 miles of Minnesota sunk in Friday morning as the Walters family took their goal in stride.
Gary Walters and his four children are walking the length of the state as a fund-raiser called Marching Minnesota for Mentors.
At 7 a.m. Friday, Walters was eager to start. "I've been thinking about it for months and waiting to the last minute to prepare," he said.
Now it was just time to go. Walters is being joined by his children, Reggie, Jackson, Cassie and Jessica.
More than 30 people attended the early morning kickoff, including Brainerd Mayor James Wallin, Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson and Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley.
"It's nice to see everybody come out," Walters told supporters gathered at the Paul Bunyan Trail Head in Baxter. "I get the easy part. I get to walk with the kids. You get to go out with pledge sheets."
The Marching Minnesota for Mentors' goal is to gain awareness for the nonprofit Kinship Partners along with $27,000 and 27 new mentors.
"Hopefully we'll come back a little thinner, a little tanner and more united as a family," Walters said.
Those gathered laughed when Walters approached Koering, saying if the Legislature passed $27,000 it would save him a trip. Cylinda Ring, a former neighbor of the Walters family, said she thought Walters would succeed.
"I think he will," she said. "He puts his mind to something and he does it."
As they gathered fanny packs with water, Reggie, 15, and Jackson, 11, were speechless when asked if it has sunk in they will be walking until June 20, the day they expect to return to Brainerd.
Marching Minnesota
More information is available online at www.marchingmnformentors.com.
|
"You're wasting like an eighth of your summer," said 11-year-old friend Steve Raboin.
Cassie, 13, arrived at the trail head beaming with a big smile. Her family said she was the most enthusiastic about the trek. She admitted to being excited about the idea when it first came up last summer. The idea was floated after her father ended his Perching for Partners stint on Brainerd's historic water tower.
"No kids walk across Minnesota," she said.
Jessica, 10, was a little more skeptical about the walk itself.
About a dozen supporters helped initiate the effort, walking with the Walters family as they started the trek at a brisk pace. Two miles later, when the group reached the trail parking area on Beaver Dam Road, Cassie was still smiling. Jackson sprinted toward the first brief rest stop and promptly took a seat on the trail. Gary Walters was already warm with the effort. His pedometer registered more than 5,000 steps.
"We are making a change," he said. "It's two miles a day for 80 days."
Supporters were shuttled back to the trail head. Then the Walters family members struck out on their own, heading toward Merrifield. The pace was a little less brisk this time.
Lisa Walters was driving the recreational vehicle Friday, which acts as a support unit for the family.
Before the walk began, she said she may be the only sane one in her family.
"But then again when my husband sets his mind to something he gets it done," she said. For the family, she said walking the state is a big adventure whether the children make it all the way or not.
"How many kids can say they walked with their family across the state of Minnesota?" she asked.
The walk is expected to take 17 days with an average of 27 miles a day. The Walters family expects to walk about 10 hours each day. They expect to reach International Falls on June 9. The next day they plan to drive to the Minnesota-Iowa border south of Albert Lea and begin walking back to Brainerd. The plan calls for a lunch stop at the state Capitol on June 15. They should reach the Crow Wing County Courthouse in Brainerd on June 20.
There are teams of two committed to driving the RV for nearly every shift of the 17-day trip. The Walters family will stay at private homes or hotels along the route. Part of the family motto for the trip is that quitting is not an option.
The first big hurdle may be getting up and on those feet for day two.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
|
Schools has an opening fo...
|
|
not a
9-5 person,
how about
11-2, 4-...
|
|
CASH!!
Independent Carrier need...
|
|
position plans sales trai...
|
|
is hiring for the following
...
|
|
|
|
Bids Being Accepted
call...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overcast, 61°
