Brainerd Dispatch: News | Brainerd, Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area News on brainerddispatch.com

Home > NEWS >

Thursday, September 17, 2009

E-mail

Forums

Walters ready for a year off

By JODIE TWEED

Staff Writer

Gary Walters said Thursday he's planning to take next year off from his wacky adventures to raise money and awareness for Kinship Partners.

"I'll believe that when I see it," his wife, Lisa, said with a laugh.

Jessica (left), Lisa, Jackson and Gary Walters were honored Thursday at a welcome home ceremony by Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, who read a state House resolution he authored that recognized the family for their work in raising money and awareness for Kinship Partners. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
» Purchase reprints of this photo.

Walters and his family returned home to Baxter Sunday from Washington, D.C., after completing what he says was his most difficult challenge yet. He, along with his 15-year-old son, Jackson, Rollerbladed from Brainerd to D.C., a 1,153-mile journey Aug. 13 through Labor Day. His 14-year-old daughter, Jessica, biked the trip while his wife followed them in their sport-utility vehicle.

On Wednesday, the Walters family was honored at a welcome home ceremony at the Kinship offices. To date, Walters has raised more than $16,000 from his Rollerblading trip to D.C., and about $110,000 total for Kinship since he began his annual challenges in 2003.

Walters was welcomed home by Brainerd Mayor James Wallin and Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson. Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, presented the Walters family with a House resolution signed by the Speaker of the House, House Majority Leader and Ward honoring them for their work and dedication to Kinship Partners.

"He's an inspiration to all of us," David Downing, Kinship Partners executive director said of Walters. "He's a great guy."

"I'm very, very proud," said Marlene Walters, Gary's mom, who attended the welcome home party with her husband, Jerry. She said her son has always been a leader and he's never been very shy.

"God, I'm fat, no wonder people didn't think we could do it," Gary Walters said as a slideshow of trip photographs was shown. "I'm sure people thought that guy can't go 500 feet much less to D.C."

Walters said he hopes his crazy stunts prove that anybody can do anything if they try.

Scott Lucas, Nisswa, brought Garett Lane, 12, his Kinship Partner of three years, to Wednesday's welcome back party.

"I became a mentor because of him," Lucas said of Walters. "He's inspirational. You read about Britney Spears and other celebrities in the news and they've done nothing with their lives and then you have people in our area like Gary. It's amazing."

Jackson Walters said he wouldn't mind doing another challenge with his dad, but not Rollerblading.

"It was exciting to be done but it didn't hit me until the second or third day in D.C. that I had Rollerbladed across the country," said Jackson, a 10th-grader at Brainerd High School.

Jessica Walters said she would complete another adventure with her dad again, especially if it involved biking. The ninth-grader said she's proud of her dad. She said she gained confidence on the journey.

"Confidence that I could do something like this again," said Jessica.

"I've never had input on it. He comes up with what he's going to do. You're along for the ride," Lisa said of her husband's fundraising adventures for Kinship. "We really had a fun time. It was a fun adventure we'll never do again."

Gary Walters said he wants to take a year off from his challenges than do another one with his children in two years. He won't say what he, Jackson and Jessica are plotting for their next big adventure.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.

Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.