OTTUMWA, IOWA -- One 53-year-old man is walking across the country to spread the word about Victory Junction Gang Camp, a camp for terminally-ill children.
Steve Young, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, started his trek October 10, 2007, in order to spread the word about the camp, which is completely free of charge, hosts an onsite hospital, and caters to children with illnesses such as cancer, spina bifida, sickle cell anemia, autism and much more.
“These kids can come to this camp and enjoy themselves, get away from doctors,” said Young. “They can hike, fish; they have a lot of things, a theatre that they can get up on stage and maybe do a play and things like that. They have an arts and crafts building. They have all kinds of things for these kids.”
Victory Junction Gang Camp is located in Randleman, North Carolina. It sits on 84-acres of land, donated by Richard (the racecar driver) and Linda Petty.
Young left his home, car and job behind, and has traveled 37 states, totaling 14,000 miles, in which he walked 10,000. He utilizes city, state and National parks, as well as fairgrounds and wooded areas to set up his tent to sleep at night.
“I just thought that if I could get out there and reach people that might not know about the camp, I just thought that it would be a great thing to have more people aware of the camp for donations purposes, and for families that have a child, a special-needs child…that they’re able to go there and make use of the camp themselves,” said Young.
Young has been spreading news of the camp for the past three years, acquiring donations, which keep the free-camp open. He said the camp is also in need of quilts or afghans, as each of the children at the camp receive one when they leave.
Young has taken two- six-month breaks to write a book on his adventures. He is currently on chapter 56 and plans to end with 66 chapters.
How does Young survive financially on his journey?
“I started with a large sum of money and that didn’t last me as long as I thought it would,” said Young. “But, I get a lot of help from people as I go along, without asking anybody. I let the Lord take care of that. I’ve done a lot of side-work as I’ve gone along, [as well].”
He once worked with a logging-family in Kentucky, cutting trees, and he has also done other miscellaneous side-work, such as painting houses.
Young said the weather has been the most difficult part of his trek, but what has been the most rewarding?
“The people I’ve met; just knowing that the people are like they are towards a total stranger,” he said. “They’ve welcomed me into their homes; they’ve done just so many things. I do appreciate all of the times I’ve been greeted by the kindness of the people I’ve met. We live in the greatest country in the world, with the most kind and caring people.”
Young plans to finish walking in May of 2011, and he said it has been “a long and enjoyable journey.”
For more information on Victory Junction Gang Camp, visit http://www.victoryjunction.org/.
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