(Reprinted from “The Daily Herald,” October 12, 2001.)
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Dan Thompson wanted to help his country after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He couldn’t join the military, though, because he is totally blind.
So Thompson decided instead to walk across the state — some 220 miles — to raise money for the American Red Cross and disaster-relief efforts.
Thompson reported Thursday that he was nearing the end of his march, with an umbrella and a toenail the only casualties so far.
“It’s fun. It’s exciting because I’m doing something for the country and a good cause,” he said in an interview by cell phone. “This way I can contribute.”
Thompson, a technology teacher at Jacksonville’s Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, set out Monday to walk across Illinois from west to east.
A “shadow car” is accompanying Thompson, 49, to scout out potential problems in his path and drive him over bridges and through construction zones where he is not allowed to walk. But he is doing the walking alone, with only a cane to help.
Thompson said he has suffered a few blisters and lost one toenail on his trek, which involves walking 40 to 50 miles a day. He braved heavy rain and wind Wednesday, which destroyed his umbrella.
He said a number of motorists slowed down to offer encouragement and read the sign on his back that explains what he’s doing. Thompson planned to reach his destination, Danville, tonight.
This is not the first time he has done something out of the ordinary to bring attention to a special cause. He said he also has walked from Galesburg to Bloomington and from Peoria to Bloomington to raise money for a camp for people with disabilities, and he once perched on a platform atop a flagpole for 14 days to help the Association for Retarded Citizens.
“People tell me I’m a little crazy,” Thompson added.