Jimmy Wayne Completes 1,700-Mile Walk to Raise Awareness for Homeless Teens

On July 31, Jimmy Wayne completed his 1700 mile walk for Meet Me Halfway, an organization that raises awareness of homeless teens. Wayne left Nashville on Jan. 1 and completed the walk in Phoenix at HomeBase Youth Services.

 

Wayne, who spent much of his childhood and teen years living in foster care, was taken in by an elderly couple when he was 16. Wayne lived with Bea and Russell Costner for six years, which allowed him to finish college. The Meet Me Halfway walk and campaign was inspired by the Costners and their willingness to give Wayne something he never had before – stability and a home.

 

“It’s really a challenge for me to put into words what this moment means to me and what I felt when I reached that Phoenix city limits sign,” a visibly emotional Wayne said. “It dawned on me several days ago that if I got to Phoenix on July 31 I would arrive on the anniversary of Bea Costner’s death. Touching the city limits sign—I just felt Bea was smiling down on me.”

 

The walk wasn’t without a few painful moments for way. Around mile 1,650, Wayne hurt his foot when coming down the mountainside near Mesa, Az., an incline so steep, Wayne said it felt like he was looking straight down into a hole. Even though the pain was intense, he continued walking another 40 miles until it was so unbearable he was forced to seek a doctor’s opinion. One diagnosed broken heel and a sturdy airboot later, he was able to complete the just over five mile journey to the Phoenix city line.

 

Wayne celebrated the walk by performing a free concert at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill in Mesa.

 

The next morning, Wayne was joined by several hundred supporters from all over the country and the Bear Regiment of the Basha High School Marching Band of Chandler, Az., for the last half mile of the walk.

 

Wayne began and ended the walk at facilities that cater to the young and homeless in order to bring more attention and awareness to young people and the problems they face. In doing so, Wayne hoped the local communities would become more involved.

 

“It still amazes me that there are kids in this country who have nowhere to go,” he told the crowd. “They sleep on the streets or in parks. They dig through trash for food. This has got to end. We all have to do our part to help these young people. Meet them halfway. You’d be surprised at how much that simple act can help.”

 

Wayne closed the festivities with a private concert at the Hard Rock in Phoenix for about 160 teens and young adults in either the foster care system or an organization like HomeBase. During the show, Wayne shared his own story based on his experiences and performed some acoustic songs.

 

While there, the Hard Rock acquired a pair of the shoes Wayne wore on the 1,700-mile trek, which will become part of the organization’s rock and roll collection and displays.

 

Wayne stressed that his efforts to end child homelessness will continue through the Meet Me Halfway organization. For more information on the organization and its mission statement, visit

http://www.projectmmh.org.