One Man's Walk Across America Stuck in Indio

On March 19^th, Mike Shaw, a 69-year-old medical insurance salesman, left Dana Point for New York City on a walk across America to raise awareness and funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. 

Ten days later, after walking through Palm Desert earlier in the week, Shaw found his "Long Walk to Redemption" at a dead stop in Indio.  

He’s not stopped by exhaustion or weather, but by a busted transmission in his support RV called “the Mothership” or simply “Mother”.  

“I can prepare myself for each day,” Shaw said, “but something like this that’s unforeseen, you can’t prepare for. You just have to press on and overcome it.  I won’t let it stop me.”  

Shaw was inspired to make this walk across the nation by two events in his life:  seeing the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant a wish to a terminally ill child, and two months later attending the funeral of his best friend’s wife, who lost her life to cancer. 

“It make me look long and hard at myself,” Shaw said, “I’ve been successful in business and I was living the rock star life.  But it means nothing if you can’t give something back.” 

After two years of planning, Mike began “the long walk to redemption”, hoping to raise money for two causes close to his heart.  

Shaw told of meeting a young boy from the Make-A-Wish Foundation that was terminally ill.    The boy’s wish was to be a superhero.   Shaw’s company presented the boy a custom made suit for the youngster, who then deemed himself “Happy Man”. When asked if he anything to say to the crowd in attendance, the boy smiled and declared, “I zap you all happy!” 

Shaw said the moment brought streaming tears to nearly everyone in attendance, and made a big mark on himself.  

Another set of images that are seared in Shaw’s mind are of wounded soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.  

“I realize my commitment to this is nothing when compared to what these brave men and women do. Their lives are on the line every moment of every day,” he said.  Shaw related the story of a photo recently sent to him by a member of the Wounded Warrior program.  

“Here’s this soldier in a wheelchair, lost his legs in Afghanistan,” Shaw said.  “And he’s holding a sign that says ‘Go Mike’…things like that keep the passion to do this going, knowing I’m doing the right thing.”  

The breakdown of the RV is just another mishap along the journey that started almost two weeks ago. Shaw has had to walk against freeway traffic, backtrack due to some incorrect routing and having the lone member of his support team drop out and return home to England.  

The travelling party is now Shaw, the RV and his personal car.  

Each morning, Shaw’s plan is to drive the RV to a point about 10 to 15 miles further east, then walk the distance back to the personal vehicle. He then drives the car back to the RV.   Shaw jokes that he’s actually crossing America on foot from east to west, while his vehicles go west to east.  

With “Mother” in repairs and expected back on duty on Tuesday, Shaw is driving the second support vehicle, his personal car, back to San Clemente for time at home with his wife and their dog.  

He plans to resume the long walk to redemption on Tuesday.  

“I have some people I know in Blythe I need to have lunch with next week, it’s a bit a hike to there.” he said with a smile.  

Blythe next week, and with a bit of luck, Shaw plans to be in New York City for Thanksgiving.  

You can follow Shaw’s journey or donate to Mike’s efforts by click here.