Miami to Frisco, marching for orphans
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A Florida man passed through Harrisburg yesterday on his way to San Francisco.
Not too newsworthy, except that he's doing it on foot, not driving, riding, flying or taking the train.
"(Monday) I walked 18 miles. The day before was 14. I average around 16 miles a day," explained Barrett Keene, 31, a native of Plant City, Fla., walking to raise awareness of The Global Orphan Project.
The GO Project is a Christian charity that focuses entirely on orphans, "who have no viable caretakers or means of care, children who desperately need residential care."
The project works with local churches around the world who can offer "base level, sustainable care."
Part of that sustainability Keene noted including helping start local businesses to provide local funding to keep local projects going.
A donation of $20 helps buy school uniforms for students which is often required before students can go to school. The uniforms are produced locally and create jobs in what are often extremely impoverished areas.
Keene started out his walk Jan. 28 in Miami to build awareness for the project and hopes to make it to San Francisco by the end of October.
"End of October would be great. That's the best case scenario," he said.
The trip gives him time to see some of the sights like Garden of the Gods on Monday as well as spend time meeting with churches and student groups along the way.
When he stopped at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., he met Ryan Stoyer, leader of a student ministry group there. Stoyer knew he wanted to help but didn't know until last Thursday if he would have the opportunity. A Facebook post about the need led to an offer of a ride to Kentucky and the opportunity to join up with Keene for nine days, enough time to get to St. Louis, Mo., where he'll catch a plane back to Atlanta.
Keene identified the social fitness site LegacyChamp.com as his sponsor who pays for his meals and covers the cost of fuel for a support van that follows him.
More importantly he said, the company is sponsoring GoWalkAmerica which is an opportunity for persons to donate online to Global Orphan Project as well as join Keene's 350,000 Mile Challenge.
There people can pledge their own distance journey whether by "walking, bicycling, swimming or whatever," he said.
Keene enjoys the solitude of walking.
"Just the time to think and pray, and listen to the books and sermons," are just some of the opportunities for him as well as the "times to reconnect with friends and meet new friends."
Besides LegacyChamp.com paying for fuel and food, the Brooks company which produces running shoes and gear are providing all the gear he needs for the walk.
Besides walking Keene spends his evening leading a research project on his dissertation for a Ph.D. in Education Leadership at Cornell University.
"Last night I was e-mailing teachers and calling teachers," he said.