Twenty-five year old Joe zeno of Redding is taking "big steps" to help beat breast cancer, by raising money for the American Cancer Society.
Monday marks 100 days since he started. In March, Zeno left his job with the National Park Service to make a 31 hundred mile trek, from San Diego to New York. We spoke with him this week as he weathered a thunderstorm... as he was leaving Tulsa, Oklahoma.....for Missouri:
"The weather's been tough, I've hit all the extremes...heavy rain, 100 degree heat. It's been tough. Definitely being away from home is the hardest part."
Zeno is promoting breast cancer awareness by doing interviews and taking part in events along the way. YouTube video captured his travels through arizona. The desert proved to be nothing compared to a run-in with a mountain lion when he tried to camp near the airport in Oklahoma City:
"She was starting to hiss at me and breathing hard. Scared me to death, I was able to make noise and scared it off."
So far, zeno has worn through three pairs of shoes raising money for the Cancer Society. It's all his way of giving back, because of the support his family received during his mothers battle with breast cancer. Sponsors and donors in Tulsa staged several events that helped meet his initial goal of ten thousand dollars.
"It's time to set a new goal. Had a couple people suggest we double it to make it 20 thousand, probably what I'll end up doing"
Aeno has about 15 hundred miles to go...and hopes to make New York city by August 15th. While his mission is to help others, Joe experienced an unexpected benefit along the way that will likely lead to more travelling in the future:
"One of the most interest things about the whole walk is the people I met along the way. kept up on emails and phone calls, I'll have to see them when its over
To donate or monitor Zeno's progress, visit www.joewalks.com.###
