While many of us attempt to come up with a meaningful New Year’s resolution for 2018, it might be helpful to recall a Wilmette man’s life resolution to walk across the entire country to raise money for Parkinson’s, an illness he’s been battling since diagnosis in 2012 at the age of 43.
As promised, Bill Bucklew left Tybee Island, Georgia on November 24, after spending Thanksgiving with his family, and is now in Western Texas, well on his way to achieving his goal of reaching San Diego, California by January. As of December 20, Bucklew had already walked over 1,000 miles. How’s that for a resolution?
Along the way, Bucklew appeared on the Megyn Kelly Today Show on December 7, an appearance Bucklew said was “amazing and brought a lot of attention to our cause” in an email to DailyNorthShore.com. Indeed, Bucklew is well on his way to raising his stated goal of $100,000, having already raised $70,000 to date. All of the funds raised go directly to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and will be 100% matched.
Anyone whose interested can track Bucklew’s trip on the website of his nonprofit Uncorked Adventures. A blog posting regularly updates Bucklew’s adventures, as well as a distance tracker will shows his currently location.
It’s been challenging to walk at such a brisk pace while living with Parkinson’s — Bucklew is walking essentially two full marathons everyday to cover 2,500 miles.
But Bucklew appreciates the support of family, friends and the roughly 100 people from all of the country who also suffer from Parkinson’s and other illnesses, who have joined Bucklew in his travels. For instance, in Bolton, Mississippi a woman met up with Bucklew after seeing him on the Today show. Having recently undergone a double mastectomy and suffering from numerous other medical issues, she was inspired by Bucklew’s walk. She plans to complete a marathon when she recovers.
Bucklew says the people he’s met have been the best part of the trip so far. “The best part has been connecting with people and seeing the goodness in people (and) seeing the inspiration in them,” Bucklew wrote.
To learn more about Bucklew’s walk or to donate money toward his cause go to www.uncorkedadventures.org.
