Pacin’ Parson’ crosses into Michigan on his 3,000-mile walk for PH

Auburn's Don Stevenson crossed into Michigan today, keeping him on pace in his latest cross-country benefit walk.

August 3, 2015 5:22 pm
Don and Loretta Stevenson pause to pose along Highway 2 in middle America. Stevenson is on pace in his 3
Don and Loretta Stevenson pause to pose along Highway 2 in middle America. Stevenson is on pace in his 3

Staff reports

Auburn’s Don Stevenson crossed into Michigan today, keeping him on pace in his latest cross-country benefit walk.

Auburn’s 79-year-old man of sole, a retired minister and former Marine, is walking across America – 3,000 miles in all – to raise awareness and money for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).

Stevenson, who is four months shy of his 80th birthday, is expected to end his walk in Ironwood, Mich., today. He plans to pass through Michigan, head south across the Straits of Mackinaw, through Detroit and Ohio, before finally arriving in Silver Spring, Md., the headquarters of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. The goal is to reach the PHA center in mid-September.

Stevenson has following a route along Highway 2 across the northern part of the U.S., completing between 25 and 30 miles a day and taking Sundays off to rest. Stevenson’s wife, Loretta, drives ahead and secures overnight accommodations.

On May 16, Stevenson completed 500 miles, reaching Libby, Mont., the unofficial start of his walk. The head start increases the chances that the walk and return trip by car take place during good weather.

Stevenson left from the steps of Auburn City Hall on June 9. He reached Rugby, N.D. – the geographical center of North America – on July 14.

Stevenson’s walk, the 20th in his ultra-walk career, is one of PHA’s many O2 breathe™ events, where communities and individuals raise money for PHA. Actelion and Bayer support the events.

PHA is chronicling Stevenson’s journey on social media while inviting people to walk with him and capture the experience via photos and short video clips.

Donors can support Stevenson by going to PHAssociation.org/PacingParson and following his journey @PHAssociation on Twitter and Pulmonary Hypertension Association on Facebook. PHA asks that supporters add #PacingParsonPHA to their social media posts.