WALTON _ A 31-year-old man is traveling across America in a motorized wheelchair to inspire other people who are living with muscular dystrophy.
Matt Eddy was rolling through Walton on Thursday afternoon on the 12th day of his five-month journey from coast to coast, starting from Boston. He was headed toward Bainbridge on state Route 206, using a GPS system to guide them.
"I am doing this to promote awareness, raise money for Matt's Place and to provide inspiration for people like me," Eddy said. "No matter how bad things are, people shouldn't just sit around and feel sorry for themselves. You have to live your life."
Eddy said that eight years ago, his doctors gave him six months to live.
"I guess they were wrong," he said smiling.
Matt's Place Inc. began as a grass-roots organization in October 2000, to help Eddy return to his community after being institutionalized for complications of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, according to Ron Steenbruggen, founder and executive director of Matt's Place.
Eddy said the trip came about to try to find corporate sponsors for Matt's Place.
"We had to so something crazy, something big," he said.
The organization builds accessible housing and provides community awareness and education, personal care staff assistance and help with the transition from health-care facility to home. Matt's Place was incorporated in September 2006, and received public charity status in October 2006.
Ron Steenbruggen, a respiratory therapist who befriended Eddy after he was permanently placed on a ventilator, is one of the four people accompanying Eddy on his cross-country adventure. Steenbruggen rides alongside Eddy on a bicycle.
"I am always by his side," Steenbruggen said.
Eddy's other companions include Steenbruggen's daughter, Danielle, Shawn Morrissey, who is filming a documentary of the trip, and Andrew Walsh, the group's Mr. Fix-it. Eddy's two Boston terriers, Daisy and Maia, are traveling in the group's minivan.
Eddy travels, on average, about 20 miles per day, though Wednesday, he covered 39.1 miles between Hobart and Walton.
"Until I got to New York, I had never seen deer in the wild," Eddy said. "And the mountain views are incredible." Eddy is looking forward to seeing the rest of the country as he rolls westward.
"I have never been past Kansas City," Eddy said. "I am anxious to see the Rocky Mountains."
Want more information?
To see his website: click here
To make a donation, visit click here
To read about his journey, visit his blog here
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
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