Unlike Forrest Gump deciding to run across the country for no good reason at all, 62-year-old Frank Ryan is on a mission.
From Bill Sheridan over at the Maryland Association of CPAs:
The CPA, consultant and Business Learning Institute thought leader is spending his spring and early summer on a remarkable journey that finds him walking from coast to coast to raise awareness for Good Shepherd Services, a non-profit organization that provides treatment and care for teens and young adults with developmental disabilities.
Frank started March 15 near San Diego; 2,826 miles and 100 days later, he hopes to arrive in Ocean City, MD just in time for the MACPA annual Beach Retreat. He's walking 32 miles a day across 14 states hauling 50 pounds of supplies and an additional 60 – 80 pounds of food, water and gear behind him.
“The first part is atonement,” Ryan said. “I want to ask any person that I have hurt in my life to forgive me, any person that I have let down or disappointed to pray for me, and any person I have helped to consider helping another. The gratitude part is this: I’m asking anyone who is willing to follow me for a mile or two, so that they can help carry some supplies. I don’t know if I will get that support, but I will be very grateful for any help I can get.
If you're interested in giving him a hand along the way, here's the route:
Frank says he's a little anxious but to him, the uncertainty of his trip serves as a reminder of why he's doing this. The "kids" Good Shepherd cares about "can't ask what the contingency plan is."
Let's all cheer this guy on in spirit, even if he is making the rest of us look bad.
Oh and while we're on the subject, we're always interested in feel good stories about CPAs doing cool things other than ticking and tying so if you know of a CPA doing something amazing that the rest of the community should know about, do be sure to let us know.
