Country music's Jimmy Wayne is used to being on the road. Traveling the highways and Interstates to his next performance is something Wayne knows by heart.
Yet, Jimmy Wayne saw the road as a different opportunity. Instead of riding on a bus down each road to his next gig, Wayne decided to drop the tour bus, take a break from gigs and walk. Yes, walk. Wayne wanted to walk for a purpose down the roads.
Wayne began a long walk in Nashville, Tennessee, en route to Phoenix, Arizona, on New Year's Day to raise awareness for young adults who are leaving the foster-care system without a place in the world to go, without any help or direction.
Wayne is familiar with the foster-care system, as well as being homeless. Most of Jimmy Wayne's life was spent growing up without a real home to call his own.
Wayne felt walking during the winter months to raise awareness makes more of a statement. Jimmy says, "If you're going to make a statement, you can't make a good, honest statement when it's 75 degrees."
This has been a long journey on Interstate 40 for Jimmy Wayne, as he pushes forward through each city, pressing on to Phoenix.
Wayne has endured walks during some treacherous winter weather. A few nights along the way, Jimmy called it a day and took rest at a hotel, but for the most part, Wayne took rest alongside the Interstate curled up in a sleeping bag underneath a tent.
Along the way, Wayne has met some incredible people. Fans. Fellow citizens of a town he was walking through and even furry critters. Some have walked part of the journey with Wayne, others have offered a cup of warm Joe, one couple even cooked him dinner and others have offered him a night in a warm room of their own home. However, it's a furry critter that's been beside Jimmy Wayne the most recently.
A German shepherd began following Wayne with each step and each stop.
Yesterday was a bittersweet day for Jimmy Wayne.
The sweet part is that he finally made it in to Oklahoma on his walk, but the bitter part is the German shepherd was killed by a car last night.
Last night, Jimmy Wayne posted on Twitter his sadness in the loss of the furry friend he made along the way, "I am so unbelievably heart broken this am. My new friend was killed by a car last night."
Those keeping up with Wayne's tweets and his walk felt a bit of sadness in the loss, too.
One of Wayne's followers replied to his tweet, "Thats just the saddest thing ... I'm soooo sorry! Chin up and walk strong. He's taking every step w/ U"
Wayne continues walking forward, with four more states to go until he makes it to Phoenix.
Jimmy hopes people will be inspired to donate money to HomeBase Youth Services, an Arizona-based charity that helps young adults coming out of foster-care. If not that group, then, Wayne says he hopes people will give to similar charities in their own communities.
With layers of clothing, head gear, and glasses, Wayne is making his way along I-40 in Oklahoma right now, follow his updates on Twitter to see what happens in our state!
For more information on HomeBase Youth Services in Arizona: Youth in Crisis
To find out information about becoming a foster parent: Foster Care & Adoption
For adoption in Oklahoma, you will find it here.
Comments
Hi Jimmy:
I was listening to Ben And Matt this moring and I heard part of your personal story.
First of all I want to Thank God for Blessing you to persue your wonderful gift to help others less fortunate than yourself.
Secondly I wnat to thank you for having the courage and will to walk to support children that have suffered in their lifetime as well.
and in closing I can't wait to get the information so I can join you on your walk to the Phoenix, Area.
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