First of all, I would like to thank these Irish Pubs in Manhattan where at least one staff member bought shirts I had made to help kick off my third attempt. Both Rosie O’Gradys, all three playwrights, McGhee’s The Irish Pub, O’Lunney’s, T.J. Keanes, P.J. Conleys, Flannerys, Blarney Rock, Connollys, Limberick House, O’Reillys Townhouse, Pig & Whistle, Fitzpatricks, Clancys, Banshee Pub, Baileys, Hickeys, Maggies Place, Emmetts. Also in N.Y. Flight 151, Walters, Wicked Wolf, Hogs & Heifers and Flashdancers. From the N.Y.P.D. Times Square Substation Officer Sal & Officer Dan Doody. Thanks to my friends in New Jersey and these stores: Livingston Mart, Livingston Italian Deli, Ernie’s Exxon, Verona Inn, Verona Carpet, Bada Bing Entertainment in Verona, Jack Daniels Audi in Fair Lawn, NJ, Major Car Wash in South Brunswick, NJ, Rubicons Pub in Orange, NJ, Hooters in Washington, D.C. and Rumors in Washington, D.C., D.C. Improv. thank you to the Eagles in Morristown, NJ, The American Legion in Caldwell, NJ, Global React in Cornelius, NC, Tsubo Shoe Co. in Carlsbad, CA, Willie’s Diner in Bloomfield, NJ, McGuire Reality in N.Y.C., TNT in Secaucus, NJ, Joseph’s Driving School in Hillside, NJ, Merrill Lynch in N.Y.C., American Payroll Systems in Chesterfield, MO. I would also like to thank Teri and Kendra Fustin, both who I met on my second try in Springfield, IL for all their love and support and phone cards to start my third try.

To Asics Shoe Company, especially Lisa for supplying my shoes. Asics is out of Orange County, CA To P.J.’s wireless and Pat higgins of Livingston, NJ, who along with AT&T will be supplying me with a cell phone.

To Eddie Adams a childhood friend from Livingston, NJ who carved me a beautiful walking stick to replace the one stolen from me on my second try. If anyone who sees my stick and would like Eddie to carve one for them you can e-mail him at merlin1962@earthlink.net.

To my three friends from Merrill Lynch in N.Y.C. who have gotten involved in helping with my walk and will do so in the future.

To John Xearas, G.M., of the D.C. Improv who on Nov. 21 allowed me to go onstage to talk about my walk and let me sell my shirts there. Comic hypnotist Flip Orley allowed me time from his show to do it.

To Al and Brian Stanaway from my hometown of Livingston, NJ who own Major Car Wash in South Brunswick, NJ. Brian and I are childhood friends and Al is his dad. On Nov. 1 2003 they let me sell my shirts there and have become my biggest sponsor back home. Al also got Rt. 23 Car Wash in NJ involved.

To Ben of Verona, NJ Sports Center and Norma of Extreme Printing of Belleville, NJ for discounts on my shirts, and Ben is providing the ones I’ll be wearing across America.

To John Bouniconti of bigjohnsteam.org. John and I met during my second try in Loveland, CO. John has helped with gas cards for supplies I’ll get at convenience stores, and when I needed a website to update my walk he was all for doing it. See more about John on the web site.

To Sportsman’s warehouse of Loveland, CO for providing my pack.

And to my family, neighbors in New Jersey and especially my mom for without whose love, support and understanding I would not be able to do this. Mom, I Love You!

On Tuesday, November 25 I took the Greyhound down to Norfolk, VA. There I was picked up by Keisha O’Neill. Keisha works for Virginia and New York Wings and the Deck Grille in Norfolk. We had been in touch since August. I was going to start in September but logistics were not in place yet. She picked me up in Norfolk and we went to the Deck Grille. She bought me dinner and we played Trivia with two other friends Jeff and Robert. Later we went to the hotel which is putting me up, The Holiday Inn Oceanside on Atlantic and 21st Street in Virginia Beach. I was supposed to start November 26th, but we were not ready yet, so on Thanksgiving, Keisha invited me to her mom’s home. Along with her mom, there was her daughters Cassidy and Rosalee and husband, Joel. We had a great time. That night she invited me to the Hooters holiday party at Peabody’s, Virginia Beach’s top nightclub. There the management of Virginia Wings invited me to talk about my walk onstage in front of 500 people. All went well and we had a great time at Peabody’s. On Saturday, November 29 we were off. Girls from Hooter’s in Virginia Beach walked with me for the first mile of my journey in support. I ended the day at their restaurant where I was treated to lunch. I can’t thank them enough for taking time out of their day to support my walk. The weather was a cool 50¾ but that’s the way I like it.

Thanks so much to Christi and Michele for all their support at the Holiday Inn and to the hotel for the extended stay. If anyone is visiting Virginia Beach I’d recommend staying here. They couldn’t have been more kind, or helpful. They really care. The same could be said of the Residence Inn by Marriott on Vermont Street in D.C. Not only did they let me stay while I spoke at the D.C. Improv, they did the same in September of 2001 before I started my second attempt. If not for Keisha O’Neill I don’t know how I would’ve gotten my third try started. She introduced me to so many people and made me feel a welcome part of her family. She, and people like Lavonne Hougen of Nebraska, Sharlene Dyer of Nebraska, Carol Rodriguez of Wyoming and Sam Shertzer of Colorado, and so many others from my second try is what makes my efforts so memorable. Well only North Carolina. Thanks Virginia Beach! You started it. Thanks also to CBS affiliate WTKR - Channel 3 for putting my walk on the 11 o’clock newscast on November 29th.

Before I forget, my first 100 miles are dedicated to 13 year old cancer patient Jesse Spina of New City, NY. I asked, especially kids, to send encouraging cards and letters to his dad, Frank Spina, at Jack Daniel’s Audi, 2909 Broadway (Rt. 4) Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.

I'd also like to thank the Carolina Hurricanes for inviting me to there game while I was in town and for raising awareness of my cause on the electronic billboards.

Today I'm in High Pont, NC about 361 miles into my journey. At this point, I'd like to thank the following newspapers for spreading word of my cause: Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, Rockey Mount Telegram, Spring Hope Gazette, Zebbulon, Raleigh News & Observer, Durham, Herald Sun, Chapel Hill Herald, News of Orange County, Burlington News, Jamestown News, Suffolk Herald & most recently the High Point Enterprise.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the following television stations: WAVY-NBC, Virginia Beach, WRAL-CBS, Raleigh, WTVD-ABC, Raleigh, WRAZ-FOX, Raleigh, WGHP-FOX, High Point & WFMY-CBS, Greensboro, PAXTV, Winston-Salem, UPN48, Winston-Salem, ABC45, Winston-Salem & WXII-NBC, Winston-Salem. Also to the numerous radio stations who've helped out along the way, thank you all. There will be numerous photos coming in the next few weeks of my recent travels, so check back with me here, regularly.

First of all, I'd like to thank all of those hotels who've helped me stay along the way, and without whom I would not be able to do all this. Holiday Inn - Oceanside, Virginia Beach, VA; Holiday Inn - Chesapeake, VA;Suffolk Inn - Suffolk, VA; Days Inn - Franklin, VA; Hampton Inn - Emporia, VA; Red Carpet Inn - Emporia, VA; Carolina Inn - Roanoke Rapids, NC; Holiday Inn Express - Roanoke Rapids, NC; Super 8 - Goldrock, NC; Residence Inn - Rocky Mount, NC; Red Roof Inn - Raleigh, NC; Holiday Inn Brownstone - Raleigh, NC; AmeriSuites - Morrisville, NC; Marriott - Durham, NC; Millennium Hotel - Durham, NC; Holiday Inn Express - Hillsborough, NC; Holiday Inn Express - Mebane, NC; Holiday Inn - Burlington, NC; Residence Inn - Greensboro, NC; Crestwood Suites - Greensboro, NC; Crestwood Suites - High Point, NC; The Eagles Lodges of Virginia Beach and Roanoke Rapids for there assistance and hospitality.

Scott Childress, Governor of the Raleigh Moose Lodge, who, after meeting him in Raleigh, made me a member of the Moose, which should be helpful through NC and was in Greensboro. Thanks to Hooters of Raleigh, who's employees went to the Carolina Hurricanes games with me and walked around the arena, promoting my walk & selling my shirts. To Hooters of Greensboro who walked with me for a portion. To the great management teams of both who took care of me and made me feel at home. The guys at Sweet Caroline's in Virginia Beach put up a map to track my progress, I had a blast with those guys. Rick's Rock Café in Franklin, VA; The LaPoints of Suffolk, VA for there immense help; Christina at the B.P. in Roanoke Rapids; Randy Snider and his wife in Halifax, NC; Victoria from Smithfields in Zebulon, NC; The American Legion in Spring Hope, NC; Scott from Denny's in Raleigh and Mike from Ham's in Greensboro and the Apple Family from Greensboro, who were more than helpful. Thanks to the Ale House in Raleigh; Porter's Steakhouse, Especially Amy, Tim at James Joyce Pub in Durham; Skybox in Raleigh, especially Tiffany; The Restaurant at the Millennium Hotel, especially Joi. The restaurant at the Marriott in Durham; Tasty Bakery in Graham, NC, especially Kristin; Matt and Matt at the Wooden Nickel in Hillsborough, NC; Holiday Inn restaurant in Burlington, NC; George's Pizza in High Point, NC; Chili's in Greensboro, NC.

Thanks to Ham's Restaurant in Greensboro, NC, who's employees walked with me and both Ham's in High Point, NC. All Three made me feel like home and a part of there family. They put a sign up on their marquee, wishing me luck. Charlie Irwin, the owner, has a son inflicted with a rare disease called AT, which is Atoxia-Telangiectasia, it is a fatal genetic disease and is like having Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, Immune Deficient, Muscular Dystrophy and Cancer all rolled into one. His son is eighteen and is the longest known survivor. For more information on AT, call 1-800-5-HELP-AT or go online at www.atcp.org. So thanks Ham's, but you could've let me win at least one game of pool.

Thanks to Christian and Todd at the Funny Bone in High Point for letting me go on stage to talk about my walk., helping me and Bubba Sonders, who's social was hilarious, and for talking more about it in his act. Thanks to Zebulon Middle School for letting me talk to about 100 kids, and thanks to the kids for sending cards and letters to Alani Byrum a 10 year old girl with cancer, from Roanoke Rapids, NC, who I have dedicated a portion of my walk to. Cindy Day arranged that for me, and thanks to WRAL-TV for mentioning here. Thanks to WAVY TV in Virginia Beach for mentioning Brian Redifer a three year old boy with cancer from Virginia Beach, VA, who I dedicated a portion of my walk to, in VA. Thanks to Duke University Women's Team for inviting me to a game, and especially Emma Bennett, of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes for inviting me to 2 games. setting up a table for me with signs to let me sell my shirts to fund my walk, and to the Hurricane Booster Club for inviting myself and the girls from Hooter's to their party after game 1. Emma was so supportive. I can't thank her enough. She put my walk in the press guide and because of her I met a lot of great people and I wouldn't have gotten there or accomplished anything without Hooter's of Raleigh. Thanks to Brian Stanaway, of Major Car Wash in South Brunswick, NJ for the shirts and to Ben of Verona, NJ Sports Center for sending them. Thanks to Mark Sheehan of Sheehan Insurance Group in Alexandria, VA for his help. He is pictured bartending at Rumor's in DC, and Waylan Green of S.A.S. Securities in Carey, NC for his help. Thanks to Dan Jacobs of Virginia Beach, VA for talking to E.C.S. Automotive in Virginia, Beach in hope of getting them involved. To all of the convenience stores, especially Christina at Roanoke Rapids BP. The gang at Tommy's in Mebane, NC. And especially Sam Compton at Sam's Mart in Mebane, NC. Thanks to all the media who've covered my walk, it makes it so much easier when I'm walking down the road with my backpack and people know what I'm doing. I'm way behind schedule right now, because I've spent more time in certain areas than others mainly to talk to more people and let my back heal. The blisters on my feet I can tolerate but the back pain is torturous sometimes. So far I've walked in rain, sleet, snow, but the weather has been generally good. It's so hard to leave an area where I've made friends and walk away and become a stranger all over again. The loneliness is the hardest part, and the uncertainty of the road. I've had traffic come way too close to me at times and when people don't know why I'm out there I get strange looks, and some are leery. The physical is very demanding and so is keeping up with everything, but I feel this time, I'm going to make it. My Asics are holding up well, and they are perfectly worn in after 361 miles, but I really forgot how hard this is. 45 lbs. On your back, sometimes for more than 20 miles a day, wears on you. But somehow I'm still able to do it, and I thank all those who've honked, waved or stopped along the way to say hello and share their stories of cancer with me. So far I've been stopped three times by the police on this walk, sixteen times total on all three trips. But I welcome it, they are always helpful once they know what I'm doing, and look out for me. I can't help but feel like John Rambo in First Blood though. I'd like to thank the City of Hope for their support. John Buoniconti of Big John's Team and Jeff Harris of Rhapsody Designs, Agawam, MA who's keeping you up-to-date here on the website. Don't know what I would do without you guys. Thanks America, couldn't do this without ya. For all those I forgot to mention, Sorry. You know who you are, so now on to Charlotte. One more thing, thanks to Wal-Mart of Suffolk, VA and High Point, NC and to the Prendergast Family whom I've known all my life, for their support and the winter jacket they supplied me with. So onto Charlotte.

Some additional media coverage was provided by the Lexington Dispatch in Charlotte, NC; Salisbury Post and the Kannapolis / Concord Independent Tribune. Also FOX 18 in Charlotte has covered my story as well as WSOC ABC 9 Charlotte.

Unfortunately on my way from Concord to Charlotte, I got Frostbite on my big toe of my left foot, so I'll be here for a week while my toe heals. I've been invited to a Carolina Checkers game on March 6th.

Anyway, I'm dedicating my walk through Charlotte to a 4 year old boy named Joshua Polk who has Leukemia and is in need of a Liver Transplant. For more information on donating, call Christine Elizondo at the Wesley Chapel Child Development in Indian Trail, NC. (704) 289-3851.

The pictures will be posted from the first update forward, little by little throughout the next two weeks.

4th Update - May 16th, 2004

Well it's been a while since my last update from my last one so here are all of those who helped, encouraged, and without whom I would not have gotten this far. First the hotels and motels who let me stay and let me rest and allowed me to promote my walk and meet many people:

• The Regency Inn, Lexington, NC
• Best Western Inn, Salisbury, NC
• Wingate Inn, Concord, NC
• Holiday Inn University, Charlotte, NC
• Holiday Inn Airport, Charlotte, NC
• Westin Hotel, Charlotte, NC
• Courtyard by Marriott, Charlotte, NC
• Highway Inn, Gastonia, NC
• Comfort Inn, Kings Mountain, NC
• Days Inn, Shelby, NC
• Days Inn, Gaffney, SC
• Courtyard by Marriott, Spartanburg, SC
• Hampton Inn, Greer, SC
• Marriott, Greenville, SC
• AmeriSuites, Greenville, SC
• Guesthouse Suites, Greenville, SC
• Courtyard by Marriott, Greenville, SC
• Value Star, Anderson, SC
• Ramada Inn, Anderson, SC
• Hampton Inn, Anderson, SC
• Comfort Suites, Anderson, SC
• Quality Inn, Anderson, SC

Thanks to these restaurants for their help and company:

• Prime Sirloin, Lexington, NC
• Rock Harley Saloon, Salisbury, NC
• Waffle House, Kannapolis, NC
• Cici's Pizza, Concord, NC
• Hooters Restaurant for walking with me in Concord and making a sign on their marquee, welcoming me
• Special thanks to the Stool Pidgeons in the university section of Charlotte for taking car of me for a whole week and attending a Charlotte Checkers game with me to promote my walk at the game
• Sagebrush Restaurant, Charlotte, NC
• Holiday Inn University, Charlotte, NC
• Boardwalk Billy's, Gastonia, NC
• Texas Roadhouse, Gastonia, NC
• Special thanks to Ham's, Shelby, NC
• AppleBee's, Shelby, NC
• Rick's Rock Cafe, Shelby, NC
• Fatz Cafe, Shelby, NC
• Five East Restaurant, Shelby, NC
• Fatz Cafe, Gaffney, SC
• Bankheads, Spartanburg, SC
• Delaney's Irish Pub, Spartanburg, SC
• Rascal's Clubhouse, Spartanburg, SC
• The restaurant in the Marriott, Greenville, SC
• Brew's Pub, Greenville, SC
• Bailey's Sports Grill, Greenville, SC
• Hooters, Greenville, SC
• Ruby Tuesday's, Greenville, SC
• Breaktime, Anderson, SC
• Chili's, Anderson, SC
• Hooters, Anderson, SC

Thanks to the police departments who have helped and looked out for me: Lexington, NC, North Carolina State Police, Kings Mountain, NC Police for their immense help, Shelby, NC Police for following me across a narrow bridge, and the South Carolina State Police.

Special thanks to Moose Lodges in Spencer, NC, Gastonia, NC, Spartanburg, SC. I am a Moose Lodge member and these lodges not only helped me continue but made me feel at home and made me feel part of the family. I am proud to be a member of such a great organization.

Thanks to Blessed Sacrament Academy in Charlotte, NC, boiling Springs Elementary in Gaffney, SC, and St. Mary's Elementary in Greenville, SC for allowing me to speak to them and for the Boiling Springs kids raising $500 to send in my name to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Boiling Springs and for "adopting me." And St. Mary's in Greenville for sending $350 to the City of Hope. Thank you to Blessed Sacrament Academy in Charlotte for sending cards and letters to Joshua Polk, a 4 year old with leukemia in Charlotte. Thanks to all of them, they keep me going by knowing I've inspired them to help others and by them inspiring me. Special hello to Hannah and Macaylah, both of whom have cerebral palsy, and my hero, Victoria who has cystic fibrosis, all of them go to Boiling Springs. To learn more about both of them you can go to www.cysticfibrosis.com or for cerebral palsy go to www.cerebralpalsyfyi.com.

Thanks to the Charlotte Checkers, a minor league affiliate of the New York Rangers Hockey club for inviting me to a game and raffling off an autographed stick to help me with my expenses and stool pidgeons restaurant for going to the game with me and handing out fliers for my walk. Stool Pidgeons is owned by the company that own Ham's, you can read more about them in the Feb 29th update. What a great company. Jeff Luongo, the Checker's President used to sit on City of Hope's Board of Directors.

Special thanks again to Major Car Wash of South Brunswick, NJ for helping again when I really needed it. I can always count on them and they are still my biggest sponsor. So thanks again Al and Brian.

Special thanks to Steve White Audi in Greenville, SC, Especially Mark White. They, along with Jack Daniels Audi of Fair Lawn, NJ are the only two car dealerships to get involved with my walk. Thanks guys.

Thanks to Wal-Marts in Charlotte, Gastonia, NC, Shelby, NC, Spartanburg, SC, Anderson, SC, and Greenville, SC for your continued help.

Thanks to Chili's in Anderson and the crew from Amnesia and Outback Steakhouse in Anderson whose employees are going to a Braves vs. Phillies game with me on June 5th and whose owner, Bill, has been a great help.

Thanks to Athlete's Foot in Anderson for the new pair of Asics and to Tony Jenkins of Anthony Graphics in Greenville for the discount shirts the Braves will let me sell at the game.

Thanks to the Atlanta Braves for inviting me to a game on June 5th to promote my walk.

And special thanks to Global USA Online in Kings Mountain for hosting my website when I ran out of room on Big John's team. I walked in off the street and Big Dan and everyone else was more than willing to help. I wouldn't have gotten anything done without you!

Well as far as the walk is going, I got frostbite in Charlotte, NC of all places, the tips of my toes are still numb, and I stepped on a nail between Greenville and Anderson which went through the ball of my right foot and through a ligament. I've pretty much been on hold since then. But thanks to Anderson I've been able to find places to stay. The loneliness gets to me sometimes and I could use a new back. I still don't know how I can do up to 25 miles in one day, but somehow I am. This time I feel I'm going to make it, but I can't wait until my foot feels better.

Thanks to all the media since High Point, NC for their help. For papers: The Lexington NC Dispatch, Salisbury NC Post, Concord NC Independent, Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Post, Kings Mountain NC Herald, Gastonia NC Gazette, Shelby NC News, Shelby NC Shopper, Spartanburg SC Herald Journal, Greenville SC News, and Anderson SC Independent Mail. WSOC-TV (abc) in Charlotte, Fox 34 in Charlotte, News 14 Carolina in Charlotte for making me Carolinian of the Week, TV 33 in Shelby, NC, and Fox Carolina in Greenville, SC. So far 29 newspapers and 16 television stations have covered my third attempt. Thanks to all of them!

So it's on to Georgia and if it's anything like VA, NC, and SC I'll be okay. Thanks again to everyone and please, if you can, say a special prayer for Jesse Spina, the 13 year old with cancer in NY whom I walked my first 100 miles for.

A big hello and thank you to everyone who has gotten involved with my walk. First the hotels: La Quinta Inn, Anderson SC, Days Inn, Elberton GA, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, Athens GA, Holiday Inn Express, Duluth GA, Residence Inn, Duluth GA, Residence Inn, Peachtree Corners GA, Sierra Suites, Smyrna GA, Crestwood Suites, Kennesaw GA, Residence Inn, Kennesaw GA, TownPlace Suites By Marriott, Kennesaw GA, and Marietta Conference Center, Marietta GA. A big thanks to these folks who let me stay in their home after just meeting them, Roger from the Outpost in Starr SC, Hillary and Debi from Iva SC, Pete and Marion from Comer, GA and Tim and Leslie from Statham GA. Thanks for your hospitality, friendship and trust! Thank you to these businesses for all their help and friendship, Po Girls Café, Anderson SC, Texaco in Starr, SC, The Outpost Tavern in Star, SC, Hopkins Grocery in Rock Branch, GA, Aggressive Ink Tattoo in Elberton, GA, Billy Meadows Hot Dogs in Colbert, GA, Flanagan’s Bar in Athens, GA, General Beuregard’s Saloon in Athens, GA, Lambda Chi Fraternity of UGA in Athens, GA, F.A.S. Monumental Erectors in Elberton GA, Hooter’s Restaurant in Duluth, GA, Southeastern Title Loans, Inc. of Suwannee, GA, Salon Greco in Duluth GA, Acura Carland for buying my shirts in Duluth, GA, TGIFridays in Kennesaw, GA, Hooter’s Restaurant in Kennesaw, GA, Steak and Shake in Kennesaw, GA, Bailey’s in Kennesaw, GA, and Applebee’s in Kennesaw, GA.

Thanks to Tony of Anthony Graphics in Greeneville, SC for the new shirts and sending them to me in Atlanta.

Thanks again to Dan of the New York City Police Department for his help when I needed it.

Thanks to these media outlets for covering my walk: Elberton GA News, Gwinnett GA Daily Post, to the Marietta GA Daily Journal and Channel 11 WXII (NBC) in Atlanta. And special thanks to Robin of the Marietta Daily Journal for walking with me for three hours.

Thanks to the Moose Lodges of Greenville, SC, Anderson, SC, Athens, GA, and Smyrna, GA for their continued help.

Thanks to the American Legion of Cobb GA for renewing my membership. Thanks Kevin and Lynette. Thanks to the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Doraville GA for their continued help also.

Thanks to the Atlanta Braves for inviting me to the June 18^th game against the Indians. They were nice enough to put my walk on the scoreboard in the third inning and held a 50/50 drawing for the City of Hope which raised $1,000 for them. Thanks to Helene from the City of Hope office in Atlanta for getting all the volunteers for the drawing and for the company. We had a great time! And thanks for the Braves putting up City of Hope’s info on the scoreboard in the seventh inning. To all of those from Georgia who are keeping up with my walk, don’t forget City of Hope’s Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer on August 14^th in Atlanta. Contact Helene at 1-800-272-2310 for more info.

Thanks to all of these police departments for their help, Madison County GA, Gwinnett County GA, and especially the entire Lawrenceville GA PD.

Thanks to all of you who stopped to talk to me along the road and helped and all who honked or waved.

Thanks to Peter, GM of the Washington DC Residence Inn on Vermont St. for his continued help.

Thanks to Glenn of Team in Training, which is involved in lymphoma & leukemia research, for stopping along the road to talk to me. He told me of a 3-year-old boy with leukemia whom I dedicated the rest of my walk through Georgia for. His name is Jake Rivers and you can find out more about him and other children battling cancer at www.teamrivers.com. Tanks to Glenn and Ellianne, Jake’s mom. I was introduced to many people, at a carnival to support children with cancer, and at a Team in Training swimming session where an 8-year-old named Emma was the honored hero.

Thanks to the Rivers family, Hennessey family whose son is battling Ewing’s sarcoma. Te Martin family whose son Carter is battling the same disease and the Connor family whose son beat cancer miraculously and Kristan Connor, the mom, is trying to start a national foundation to support child cancer research. Thanks David, Christian, Craig, Tom, Beth, and everyone else I met through Glenn and Ellianne. To find out more about Team in Training go to www.teamintraining.org

Thanks again to Wal-Mart in Kennesaw, GA for their continued support.

So I’m looking forward to Alabama and especially Huntsville, where Southern League team the Huntsville Stars will let me throw out the first pitch when I get there and Tiffany a friend I made a Chili’s in Anderson, SC will help Chili’s in Huntsville make me feel at home there.

The walk itself is going slower since I stepped on that nail in Greeneville. That coupled with the fact that my big toes are still numb from the frostbite I got in NC and my back hurting more than usual has slowed things, but then I wouldn’t have met the great people I have. It’s tougher to walk in the heat than the cold and I hate bugs and bees. Every once in a while I feel the twinge of when I had shin splints in both legs but so far so good. I am sick of walking on roads with no shoulders, so the majority of those days is spent trying not to get hit. I’ve learned to love sidewalks and large shoulders. I really miss seeing a familiar face and my own be and a closet but I know this will be worth it in the end. Thanks again to Daniel and Lonnie and Frances of Global USA Online for their continued and immense help keeping my web site going.

So thank you Georgia! You will be always on my mind, and if I forgot anyone, I’m sorry but you know who you are. So it’s on to where “stars fell on Alabama” and the good people there.

For those who read this, please say a special prayer for Jake Rivers, the three year old I’m dedicating the rest of my walk through Georgia for.