Folks who noticed the small group of young people walking on U.S. 27 through Pulaski County Friday afternoon might not be aware of what they were actually seeing. But those who had the opportunity to speak with them learned that they were witnessing a multi-faceted story in the works.
This story’s got action. It’s got goodwill. It’s got laughter mixed with pain — and it’s even got a little romance.
It all started last summer, when Falmouth, Ky., resident and University of Kentucky student Courtney Cox volunteered to work in Uganda for three months. While she was there, she found more than just a good cause. She also found Robbie Beattie, a Nottingham, England, resident who was on a 6-month mission. Enter romance.
Courtney returned to Kentucky last year not only missing Robbie, but also wishing she could return to Uganda to continue helping the people there.
But how, on a college student’s budget, would she ever be able to return?
Not one to let a small detail like cash flow hold her back, Courtney gathered a few of her friends and organized Empower Walk: World, LLC, a non-profit organization with a goal of raising funds to help send Courtney, Robbie and fellow UK student Christa Mueller back to Uganda in the summer of 2010.
Their fundraising technique? Walking. Across Kentucky.
Robbie came to Kentucky from England to join Courtney on her walk. Christa also joined in, bringing with her her sister, Becky Mueller, who is a student at Virginia’s Radford University. Courtney’s friend Sean Ehlman, a UK student from Independence, Ky., also lent his support.
Since June 26, the five — who range in age from 20 to 24 — have been walking more than 20 miles each day on South U.S. 27, starting on the Ohio River in Newport, passing through Lexington, and, Friday, through Somerset, on their way to their final destination: The Tennessee state line in McCreary County.
The group expects to reach the end of its road on Monday.
Each night, the travelers have been staying with various family members or with friends of friends who have emerged as hosts through the “grapevine,” Courtney said.
“Last night, we stayed at somebody’s lake house on Lake Cumberland,” Sean said.
Some drivers ask the travelers if their vehicle has broken down. Others see their T-shirts and toot their horns or give them a friendly wave.
Kentucky’s Southern hospitality has provided a bit of a culture shock to Robbie.
“People in England are so polite, but they’re polite in a negative way,” he noted.
“They tend to mind their own business.”
Many times, people along the journey will hand the group their pocket change or write them a check.
“We were eating in Arby’s one day, and this family gave us a dollar,” Courtney said. “That was all they had to give us.”
Some restaurants have provided the young people with free meals.
In Pulaski County, the group stopped at Eubank’s Ruckel’s Restaurant for lunch and a much-needed rest.
There, patrons and a waitress gave them money — and Robbie was given a bag of ice for his sore knee. The other members of the group have experienced sore muscles and a few blisters, but, overall, they’re holding up well.
The weather has been “perfect,” they said.
“It’s surprising how mentally exhausting this can be,” Becky said.
“Ipods help,” Christa added.
When members of the group return to Uganda, they hope to begin what they call “empowerment projects” — things that will help the natives “better themselves.”
“The people there don’t want handouts,” Robbie said. “They just want a helping hand.”
By Friday afternoon, the group had covered some 130 miles of Kentucky roadway. By Monday, they’ll have walked approximately 175 miles.
Luckily, Courtney’s mother will be waiting to drive them the 175 miles back to Newport.
To make a donation or to learn more about the group, write to: Empower Walk World, LLC, 1577 Hwy. 159 N., Falmouth, Ky., 41040, or e-mail: empowerwalkworld@live.com.
Local News
Related Photos
July 4, 2009
Going the Distance
Youth walking across Kentucky to raise money for a good cause
- Local News
-
-
Pulaski carries Girdler to win
In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.” - Local Democrats diss Obama
- Floyd edges incumbent in city council run-off
-
Pine Knot man leads law enforcement on chase
-
Tragic accident claims toddler
- Woman with child in car cited for DUI
- Weigel: Law enforcement, doctors must communicate about drugs
-
Man charged with utility trailer thefts
- Credit card policies for utility bills are eyed by councilors
- March for Hope to spotlight drug problem
- More Local News Headlines
-
Secret Service Boss: 'I Apologize'
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
