Walk Across Cape Cod (and the Nation!) to Help the Homeless

by Danny Jensen · 2010-07-14 08:08:00 UTC
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The east coast may be caught between high temperatures and summer thunderstorms, but that didn't stop volunteers in Massachusetts from setting out on a 104-mile walk spanning the length of Cape Cod. Beginning Monday in Provincetown and ending in Falmouth next Monday, the 18th annual Housing with Love Walk will raise money for a variety of local agencies dedicated to homeless prevention and advocacy.

Last year's walk raised $253,000 dollars, roughly $50,000 less than the previous year, so hopefully this year will see an even bigger turn out. Given how bad mid-summer traffic can be on the Cape, the organizers might even find vacationers ditching their cars and going by foot to help support the fundraising effort.

Long-distance walks seem to be an increasingly popular way to raise awareness and money to end homelessness. Whether it's country singer Jimmy Wayne (whose cross-country journey is almost over),  12-year-old Zach Bonner or Tellman Knudson's barefoot run, many people seem drawn to these feats of endurance (pun intended), perhaps because it stands as a undeniably strong commitment to the issue.  Walk-a-thons may also symbolize the long and arduous journey that the experience of homelessness and the road to permanent housing can be. Compared to the hotly debated "Sleep Out for the Homeless" fundraisers, a walk steers clear of accusations of shallowness or inauthenticity.

The annual Cape Cod trek is lead by Bob Murray of Cotuit, a longtime homeless advocate who recently retired from the Falmouth Housing Authority. This year Murray is determined to raise the donation bar, especially since the $825,000 in stimulus dollars that went to homeless prevention in Massachusetts last year is no longer available. "Despite how tough the walk is, it's not as tough as what these families have to go through," Murray tells Change.org. Since launching the walk in 1993 Murray has been thrilled to see the various agencies involved with the walk grow more confident in their fundraising efforts. "The camaraderie that develops between the agencies [as a result of the walk] encourages them to collaborate on bigger projects to address homelessness," Murray said.

Anyone can join the walk at anytime, so if you happen to be on the Cape this week (you lucky dog) check out the walking schedule to find out where you can jump in. Don't be daunted by the impressive distance of the walk, you don't have to walk every mile (although, you would earn my eternal respect if you did). If you're unable to join, you can send donations to Housing with Love Walk, P.O. Box 2192, Teaticket, MA 02536.

There are also many other walks to benefit homeless organizations happening all over the country. I've compiled a list of some of the upcoming walks below, but if you know of one in your town please let us know in the comments section below. And while you're at it, let us know why you think walk-a-thons are such a successful fundraising technique.

Dallas, TX: Help the Homeless Walkathon and 5K on November 13th, 2010

Los Angeles, CA: HomeWalk on November 13th, 2010

Charlotte, NC: Chris Wolf Homeless Awareness Walk on November 20th, 2010

Washington, D.C.: Help the Homeless Walkathon on November 20th, 2010

Athens, OH: Walk For the Homeless on January 15th, 2011

Photo credit: Rick Berk

Danny Jensen has written for TakePart.com and Intent.com and has volunteered with a variety of homeless organizations and school gardening programs.
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