Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 6, 1990 TAG: 9007040230
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Senior Jeff Allen, 17, will hike the Appalachian Trail in June 1991 to raise money for "Matt's Toybox," a project created for sick children after Allen's best friend, Matt Woods, died of leukemia.
"The toybox was set up for kids who are in the hospital having serious surgery. When the surgery is over, they get to pick out their own toy from the box," Allen said.
Matt's mother, Sue Woods, started the toybox at the Children's Medical Center at the University of Virginia several years ago at her son's request. Since then Allen has tried to contribute money each year in memory of his best friend.
But Allen sees the 1991 hiking trip as a unique experience - a way to raise a large sum of money for Matt's Toybox while combining his love for hiking.
"In seventh grade I started hiking after my friends Bob Coffey and Mary Scott took me on weekend hiking trips. I've been doing it ever since. I've hiked all of the trails in Giles County," Allen said.
His memories of his friendship with Matt cover a long stretch of his life. It began when he was in Macy McClaugherty Elementary school.
"We were best friends until fourth grade. Then Matt started to get sick, and I think because I was so young I really didn't understand what was happening to him. Our friendship dwindled and finally he died in the fifth grade," Allen said.
Despite Allen's confusion and grief over Matt's death, he said it was always important to him to do something to honor his memory. "When I heard of other people hiking the Appalachian Trail for various causes, I thought it would be a great thing to do for Matt and the toybox fund," Allen said.
And so he started planning the trip - getting pledges to sponsor the hike, buying equipment and mapping out the 2,391 1/2-mile trail from Georgia to Maine.
"So far I've only collected $280, but my goal is to reach $10,000. That will keep the toybox full of toys for three years," Allen said. He is asking all his high school classmates and their parents to contribute one cent for every mile he walks; he also is getting pledges all over Virginia.
His relatives are dipping into the excitement, too. Allen's mom and stepdad, Sherre and Steve Davis, will keep in touch with him while he's on the trail and relate his mileage and experiences to all the folks in Pembroke, where the family lives. His natural father, Jeff Allen Sr. of Wytheville, also is a sponsor.
"Someone even wrote to Erma Bombeck to see if she would match the final sum," Allen said with a laugh.
Allen will begin hiking from Springer Mountain in Georgia. He will be accompanied by two high school friends - Curtis Coleman and Larry Meredith, both 17.
"They aren't going for the same reason I am, but because they like to hike. We think we will be a good team because we have hiked together before and stay at the same pace," Allen said.
He said it takes the average person six months to make the entire trip at a leisurely pace. "We plan to speed it up to five months, though, because Maine closes their Katahdin Mountain park, where we will finish up the trip, by Oct. 15. That means hiking about 15 miles per day," he said.
The three plan to camp along the trail at night or find lodging in towns. Allen's parents will send lightweight food and clothing and some money to post offices along the route, he said.
Though that may seem primitive to some, Allen said it doesn't bother him in the least. "I would sprint the trail if I went right now. I can't wait. Getting away from normal life for five months will be great."
When he returns in October of next year, Allen wants to attend either Radford University or Randolph Macon to major in drama, and he said he will feel fulfilled, having satisfied his life's dream.
by CNB