A determined and passionate student from Plant City, Fla., is making a huge difference by working with Go Walk America to benefit the Global Orphan Project by walking 3,475 miles between Miami and San Francisco to raise awareness about the realities 145 million orphaned and abandoned children face and present opportunities for people to give.

Barrett Keene, 31, a former high school teacher, plans to travel through Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Sacramento and San Francisco. Along the way to his destination, he stopped in Tifton over the weekend and stayed with Paul and Shari Willis, who he calls his mentors and has known since age 19.

He said Monday that he walked up to the south of Tifton from Valdosta on Saturday. He stated that he took Sunday off to rest and had the opportunity to speak to Journey Church and visited the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village.

Keene noted that he usually takes one out seven days to recover after walking for so long. He stated that he walks about 15 or 16 miles a day and as of Monday, he had walked approximately 562 miles so far on his journey to San Francisco.

With a huge smile on his face, he stated, “I’m 15 percent finished, but I feel good.”

Keene began his journey on Jan. 28 with the first 20 days being only him and a backpack filled with shoes, clothes and a lap top. However, he stated that with the grace of God, LegacyChamp, a social fitness network for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, wanted to help by sponsoring everything for him, and Brooks Sports offered to give him all the clothing and shoes he needed. Also, Keene said former Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College professor Dusty Bass gave him a 1994 Dodge van to take along with him.

He said he drives the van to the place where he left off before, parks it there and then walks, and a friend picks him up. He noted that for the next two weeks, a friend has volunteered to drive the van for him. Without any worries, Keene stated that God will continue to open up doors for him.

He said that he would most likely be leaving Tifton Tuesday and would be passing through Ashburn to head to his next stop, Cordele, where he would be staying with some childhood friends. He stated that second to serving orphans and abandoned children is being reconnected with family and friends, and this journey has allowed him the opportunity to meet up with some old friends and stay at their homes.

Keene said since arriving to Tifton, the hospitality has been great, noting that Tifton is indeed a “friendly city.”

“I agree with that. It makes sense,” he stated, grinning.

While in Tifton, Keene also spoke at ABAC Monday during a community assistants’ meeting and to the Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha. He addressed leadership and serving others.

“There are 145 million kids who are orphaned or abandoned. That’s not OK,” Keene told the students at the community assistants meeting.

Keene’s desire to walk across America for orphans and abandoned children began when he got connected to the GO Project through a friend, Jacob Barreth, living in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti. Barreth was a roommate in Miami. They spent several days in prayer and reflection two years ago while on a trip to Honduras and both settled on serving orphans as the central focus of service in their lives.

Once committing his life to Christ, as well as learning what it means to follow Christ, Keene found his purpose to serve orphaned and abandoned children. The awareness is spreading while he continues his 3,475 miles walk.

“We all have the opportunity to give people food when they’re hungry and something to drink when they’re thirsty,” Keene said. “When we choose to serve, there’s something beautiful about that.”

Keene once again stressed that there’s 145 million orphans, with 130 million being in developing nations, who are in conditions we can’t imagine and it’s not their fault. He stated, “That’s where our opportunity comes in.”

Also, he noted that approximately 26,000 to 30,000 children under the age of 5 living in extreme poverty die each day.

According to the Go Walk America website, they are partnering with The Global Orphan Project to lead individuals and organizations to sponsor 25,000 school uniforms ($20 each) for orphans and other children living in rags. It further states that these children live in communities where they are not allowed to attend school unless they have a uniform. This harsh rule is in place so children will not come in rags or less. It is often the reason why the poorest children don’t receive even a primary education.

Through the GO Project, sewing centers are being started to create jobs and spur economic development in some of the most impoverished communities in the world.

Go Walk America urges, “If 25,000 school uniforms are purchased, dozens of adults in some of the most impoverished communities in the world will have jobs at the GO Threads sewing centers. Additionally, 100 percent of the profit goes to offering shelter, food, education and support for orphans in 15 countries around the world.”

When one person sponsors school uniforms for children, that individual actually supports three things — a uniform is provided to a child, jobs for adults in these impoverished communities are created and needs are met for orphans in 15 countries.

“We live in a society focused on self,” Keene stated. “It’s so easy for us to get caught up. There are so many things that we complain about, which so many people would die for. I want to create a moment of pause. Put that shirt back on the rack and help a child go to school. There’s beauty in that. God desires to transform our heart when we choose to give and serve. He didn’t ask me to do this walk.”

Keene is currently pursuing a PhD at Cornell University with concentrations in industrial psychology and organizational behavior. He stated that he researches how teachers can be effective leaders within their classrooms. As he walks from Miami to San Francisco, he continues to be a student completing his school work with the lap top that he carries on him.

You can donate at least one school uniform ($20) by visiting gowalkamerica.org. Your donation is tax deductible. According to the Go Walk America website, so far, $12,302 has been raised. Also, you can “walk with Keene” by joining the 350,000 Mile Challenge on LegacyChamp. Ask everyone you know to sponsor you per mile. Every time you walk, run, bike or swim, log your miles in the Go Walk America group on LegacyChamp. You can also visit and serve orphans in Haiti or Uganda through a GO Project.

Keene said he hopes to make it to San Francisco by the beginning of October.

For more information or to contact Keene, visit the Go Walk America website at gowalkamerica.org.

To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.