Teen walking for homeless may resume his journey Saturday in DeLand

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
On his way to Washington — David Ashby, 14, leads a group of supporters as he passes through DeLand June 16 on his way to Washington, D.C. In the group are Susan Clark, executive director of The Neighborhood Center; Tony Schefstad, executive director of the Volusia/Flagler Coalition for the Homeless; and Ashby’s cousin Whitney Taylor. His journey was put on hold after his younger sister, Aubrey Ashby, 10, was injured in a bicycle accident in Virginia. David has said he may be able to resume his awareness-raising journey as soon as Saturday, June 27.

1,100-mile walk interrupted by sister's injury

By Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jun 26, 2009 - 8:56:52am

David Ashby, the 14-year-old who took up a few pairs of good walking shoes and took on an amazing cause, has reported on his blog that he may be able to resume his 1,100-mile walk for the homeless on Saturday, June 27.

The teen and his mother had to interrupt the walk when they learned David's little sister had been in a bicycle accident in Virginia, where she was staying with relatives. She is still in the hospital, but is recovering faster than expected, David reported.

Read our earlier story about David's purpose.

To raise awareness of the plight of people who don't have homes, David started his journey from Orlando to Washington, D.C., on June 15. That evening, he walked from Orlando to Sanford, where he found food and shelter at the Rescue Outreach Mission.

On June 16, David walked from Sanford to DeLand. He ate a meal and planned to spent the night at the Agape Clubhouse at First United Methodist Church of DeLand, which is part of the Interfaith Caregivers outreach.

That's when the call came about Ashley's injury.

"When I reached DeLand, Florida, I was greeted by many people who were very supportive," David wrote on his blog. "I met with the pastors and county council member. I was followed until I reached the Church I would be staying at. After a meal there and much conversing everyone left to let me sleep.

That would not happen ... ."

David and his mother got a call that his sister might have to have surgery on or near her brain.

"Family comes first," he wrote.

His most recent blog update indicates he will take up his shoes again, and not only continue on his journey, but push forward to end on time.

"I will have to walk about 25-35 miles a day instead of the 21 I thought," he wrote.

The Beacon has not been able to reach the family by telephone, and there are are no further updates on Aubrey's condition posted on the blog. The family is trying to protect the 10-year-old's privacy, David wrote.

"She is still in the hospital, and is recovering faster than we thought," he wrote.

His mother, Alison Ashby, had been following David in the family vehicle, to make sure he had water and supervision, and also to show her support. David wrote that his mother will not accompany him on the rest of the journey; he will have someone else follow him, instead.

For more information about David's cause and his journey, visit helpingstepbystep.com.

To read David's blog, visit helpingstepbystep.blogspot.com.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Jen Horton, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!