Gregory travels across the nation in an effort to raise cancer funds
GARBERVILLE, CALIF. — The 59th day of the greatest journey of Matt Gregory’s life turned out to be the “coolest day” of his life.
Almost two months had passed since Gregory, 27 of Bellingham, Wash., began his walk across the country to raise money for cancer research in memory of his mother who passed away from melanoma in 1999. The screenwriter/beverage distributor had not seen a familiar face for 260 miles.
Oct. 29 started out like any other day on his trek from Bellingham to Miami, some 5,000 miles apart. Gregory began walking from Redway, talking to his best friend on the phone periodically throughout the day as he headed to Garberville. As he walked on the 101 Freeway, Gregory finally saw a familiar face.
His friend pulled to the side of the road with his 95-year-old grandmother. Over the course of two days, the grandmother and grandson had traveled for 10-12 hours to surprise Gregory.
The trip down south, with stops along big cities and small towns along the west coast, has been an eye opening experience. Gregory recently stopped in Santa Monica on Tuesday night, staying until Thursday morning.
“It’s beautiful,” said Gregory on Wednesday, his second day in Santa Monica. “I don’t think there’s anything better than walking down the west coast.”
Carolyn Gregory was suffering from leukemia when she gave birth to her son in 1978.She was one of the first recorded survivor cases of leukemia after she underwent a bone marrow transplant in 1979, Gregory said.
“She could’ve died when I was born,” Gregory said.
Gregory was only 20 years old when his mother died from cancer. Though his mother passed away at the young age of 43, Gregory was still grateful to have her in his life for two decades.
And so Gregory decided on the spur of the moment to walk across the country to raise $100,000 for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, which he credits with “extending his mother’s life.”
The fact that he had absolutely no hiking experience did not affect his decision. He immediately sold his truck for $2,500, found a group of sponsors to help finance his equipment and trip, received the moral and financial support of his family members in Oregon and Washington, and made his way south.
His plan was to travel from Bellingham to Dana Point, and then turning east toward Miami, which he expects to reach in September 2007. He walks about 20-25 miles a day or about eight hours a day, and spends the nights on campgrounds and hostels.
Gregory has spent most of his journey in California, stopping overnight in cities such as Crescent City, Eureka, Fort Bragg, and Santa Monica on day 117.
“Santa Monica is a beautiful place,” he said.
Donations have been flowing in at a snail’s pace with only $450 in the bank.
Gregory hopes all of that will change in the new year.
His personal account runs low at times but Gregory has managed to pay for food with the help of his family and generous strangers he has met during his journey, strangers who are touched and inspired by his story.
With a nice scruffy beard, and a stained yellow jacket, a camping backpack and a pair of trekking poles, Gregory has adopted the look of a seasoned hiker.
“Sometimes, it’s lonely,” Gregory said. “But I don’t feel the trip has been all that difficult, even when the money is low.”
It can also be a challenge to find a place to stay overnight. When Gregory arrived in Santa Monica, he planned to spend only one night in a hostel on Second Street. Unsure of where to stay in the South Bay, his next stop, Gregory sought advice from REI, a hiking and camping store on Fourth Street. The REI in Seattle is one of Gregory’s sponsors.
He learned about a camping ground in Redondo Beach and was set on leaving the next morning until he found out the park was closed on Wednesday for irrigation improvements. Gregory called a cousin of a friend who lives in West Hollywood to make arrangements to stay overnight but decided at the last minute to spend one more night at the hostel.
On Thursday, he made his way to Redondo Beach.
As he continues his trip over the next nine months, Gregory is excited about the sights he will see and the people he will meet along the way. Once he reaches Miami, his plans are to “jump in the Atlantic Ocean and go back to Bellingham.” After recuperation, Gregory hopes to write a book and produce a documentary about his trip.
Aside from doing something he feels honors the memory of his mother and all cancer victims and survivors, Gregory sees the trip as an opportunity for self discovery.
“I’ll be a stronger person after this trip,” he said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 29, 2006. Read the original PDF.