Walking Across America & Canada For Life

Last nite DBQ Co. Right to Life played host to 5 young adults who are a part of the 2011 Crossroads Pro-Life walks across the USA & Canada. Crossroads was started in 1995 by Steve Sanborn, a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) as a response to John Paul II’s call to the youth of the world to take an active role in the pro-life movement in order to establish a Culture of Life. The annual Pro-Life walks are an integral part of answering that call. Over the years, they have expanded from 1 team to 4 teams walking across the USA & 1 team walking across Canada.

The 4 USA Teams started at various points on the West Coast on 21 May. They will all meet in Washington DC 11-12 August in Washington DC. They will wrap up their journey with a Pro-Life rally at the Capitol on 13 August. The Canada team began on the same day in Vancouver, BC. They will arrive in Ottawa, ON on 12 August & have a Pro-life Rally on 13 August. I assume that it will again be at Parliament Hill.

Each team travels with a RV & another vehicle so that the walkers can take turns walking & resting. During the week they sleep at various campgrounds & Churches. On weekends they stay with host families so that they can talk at local Churches. (Men & women sleep in separate locations.) Each day the students try to attend Mass. & when there is an abortion clinic in the area some of them stop to pray & witness in front of it. They all wear shirts that say Pro-Life so that passing motorists know why they are out there on the road.

DCRTL 1st learned that they passed near DBQ in 2008. In 2009 DCRTL hosted some of them at a potluck for the 1st time. Last nite marked the 3rd time we hosted some of them. The 5 walkers that were there last night are from the Northern Walk. They were Jason Handcock, Kathlene Gorman, Emma Voelker, Martin Haggard & (from Ireland) Niamh McGee. They shared some of their adventures, & misadventures thanks to GPS, as they have traveled from Seattle.

Except for their shoes & transportation to the starting site & from the end site, the walkers have no expesnses. Everything else is covered by donations.

They have a blog on their website as well as a Facebook page for people to follow their progress.

This is the 2nd year I have been able to attend the potluck. It is a joy to see these young people living out their faith & sacrificing their Summer to witness & work to build a Culture of Life.

Here is a 3 part video that will tell you a little more about the great work these young people are doing:







You can see more videos at their YouTube Channel.