Walk2gether focuses on unity

CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen will embark on a 16-month walk from Guatemala to Chile beginning Dec. 29, 2009. The trek is being called Walk2gether.

Walk2gether will cover an estimated 8,000 miles (12,875 km) through 12 countries in Central and South America where CFCA sponsors children, youth and the aging. Sponsored members and their families, sponsors and CFCA staff will join Bob at various points during the walk.

Bob, 73, plans to walk 20-25 miles (32-40 km) per day.

Someone cares

Sometimes those living in poverty can feel forgotten by the rest of the world. Walk2gether is a way to help counterbalance the isolation of people living in poverty, and show them that someone cares.

"By walking with them, we are saying, 'You are not alone,'" Hentzen said. "We are listening to you and learning from you."

A symbol of unity

Through Walk2gether, we hope to help build community and strengthen the bonds of unity between CFCA's sponsored members, sponsors and staff. The walk will also symbolize and promote the unity of countries, races, languages, genders and creeds.

No stranger to the road

Hentzen, who lives in Guatemala with his wife, Cristina, and travels about three-fourths of the year to visit CFCA projects around the world, is no stranger to the road. In 1996, he completed an eight-month walk covering more than 4,000 miles (6,437 km) from CFCA’s international headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas, to Guatemala. He walked in gratitude for all that the poor have taught him, and to show his love for them. Walk2gether is a continuation of the first walk.