Don Stevenson, the 76-year-old ultra-marathon walker, plans to cover 1,400 miles for friends and a worthy cause.
And Auburn’s man of sole will do it blindfolded.
The “Lion Heart Walking for the Blind” is scheduled to take Stevenson across half the continent, originating June 11 from Rugby, N.D. – the geographic center of North America – and ending at Auburn in September.
Stevenson officially kicks off the walk at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 7, from Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St. He will travel to Rugby on June 11 to begin his walk. He plans to end his walk at Auburn City Hall at 3 p.m. on Sept. 7. He will walk part of the way blindfolded.
The 12-week walk is Stevenson’s way to increase awareness and raise funds for the Lions Club and for the blind and sight impaired. The Bonney Lake Lions Club is sponsoring Stevenson, who hopes to raise $200,000 for the cause.
He is dedicating the walk to friends James and Patti Premo and their 12-year-old son, Nicholas, who was born blind.
James Premo is the Lakeland Hills’ Top Food and Drug store manager. Nicholas, a special program student who attends North Tapps Middle School, is preparing for the Vancouver School of Blind for high school students.
“I obviously was floored, shocked and excited all the same time,” James Premo said of being approached by Stevenson for the benefit walk. “It’s such a great thing he has offered to do. I want him, us and the Lions Club to benefit as much as possible and to get the word out as much as possible.”
Stevenson wanted to do something special for the family, who has supported his charitable ways for years.
He is lining up volunteers to walk along with him along U.S. Route 2. He is coordinating volunteers through various Lions Clubs along the way.
“If anyone would like to walk with me, they are welcome,” said Stevenson, who has been trained to use a walking cane for the trip.
“I am again aspiring to walk hundreds of miles for others — the blind and sight impaired that others may see,” said Stevenson, who intends to average 20 miles a day. “I love walking and find it invigorating, inspiring and rewarding in many ways.”
This is not the first time Stevenson has walked this way.
The former Marine, pastor, teacher and truck driver has walked more than 40,000 miles for various charities since 1998. Long-distance walking became his passion since he retired in 1994.
The “Pacin’ Parson” walked blindfolded to support Maria Federici, a Renton woman blinded by an unsecured load that struck her car in 2004. The walk took Stevenson along the John Wayne Trail for 106 miles from North Bend to Vantage, ending at the Columbia River.
Since the walk, “Maria’s Law,”signed by the governor in 2005, makes failing to properly secure a load a crime.
Stevenson also has walked as far as Tijuana, Mexico, and Anchorage, Alaska, for charity. One of his longest walks was a 13,000-mile trek to New York City and back for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
Stevenson walked 8,000 miles around Game Farm Park for multiple sclerosis and climbed to the 12,300-foot level of Mount Rainier for the American Lung Association. He hiked 2,400 miles to all 88 counties in his native Ohio for the American Cancer Society, and walked a thousand miles over 12 of Washington’s highway mountain passes for Alzheimer’s.
Stevenson’s wife, Loretta, will accompany him on his latest walk with a support van.
Give Stevenson a challenge and he will take it on.
He has covered long distances, in searing heat and oppressive humidity, to help others. He has marched on despite painful blisters.
He remains Auburn’s tough but generous man of sole.
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Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank, account no. 2553789732, or mail donations to: the Bonney Lake Lions Foundation, 18429 89th St. E, Bonney Lake, WA 98391. Write checks to: Bonney Lake Lions Foundation. (put “Blind Walk” on the check’s memo line).
Follow Stevenson’s walk at www.thepacingparson.com.
