Jimmy Wayne Nears Journey's End

Country adventurist Jimmy Wayne has been traveling across country by foot for his Meet Me Halfway campaign. After seven months of traveling, Wayne will finally reach his final destination on Sunday, Aug. 1, in Phoenix.
 
Wayne launched his campaign on New Year’s Day to raise awareness for teens that might fall into homelessness when they age out of the foster care system. While the Country artist said that the overall experience was a good one, parts of his journey was tough on him physically.

“I began project Meet Me halfway during one of the coldest winters in American history,” Wayne told The Boot in an interview. “An arctic blast had moved in from the Northwest as temperatures dropped into single digits, and the wind chill factor trailed subsiding at a bitter 15 degrees below zero. It was so cold that my bones ached. I’d imagine that’s cold to anyone anywhere who’s sleeping outside in it. Frozen hands made it almost impossible to pack up the tent. What should have been at 10 minute process took nearly an hour and a half to complete every morning. Within two months, I’d experienced two storms and numerous snow storms which closed off back roads for days, deterring anyone from getting me in a vehicle in case of emergency. I can guarantee that when whomever referred to this type of weather as the ‘Arctic Blast,’ they weren’t insinuating it was a good time. It was a great experience, however, I was not having a blast.”

But it won’t be just the cold weather that will make it hard for Wayne as he nears his final destination.

“As I’m approaching Phoenix, the temperatures are escalating day by day, soaring to 115 degrees,” Wayne told The Boot. “It’s exact opposite from when I began this journey. The only difference is back then I could add on as much Marmot gear as I wanted, but now I can only take off so much in the desert.”

Wayne plans on arriving at HomeBase Youth Services in Phoenix on Aug. 1. Family and friends will welcome the brave star, and he can’t wait to share his experience.

“I feel it’s been a life alternating experience. A lot of things have changed over the past several months. I’ve made life-long friends and many memories. I’ll return home and begin reliving this journey and continue raising awareness for these youth that need us. Maybe write a song or two or three. Overall, I want people to remember not what I did, but what I did it for.

Wayne’s goal is to walk one state per year to continue to raise awareness for teens falling into homelessness.
 
Source: TheBoot.com