Running for Prisoners Of Conscience

   The first day we had 4 runners Larry, Dale, Jim, and Jon. Larry and Dale would only be running today. Jon and I decided that we would run from sun up to sun down and have faith that people would show up and we would cover every step between Lexington KY and Fort Benning GA.

   We started with mornning circle and prayer then headed off. It rained for the first three days of the run that made things a little more dificult because the road conditions were not good as far as the people in cars being able to see us.

   After the first two days of looking at the map and seeing how far we had come we just didn't know how we were going to make it but we kept going. On the third day Steve was going to arrive and he had pledged to do 25 miles and he did. What a difference that made to us. At the end of the day we were excited that extra 25 miles finally put us into TN.

   Day 4 we started out and we knew more people were joining us today. At the end of the running day no one had showed yet as soon as we thought no one was coming Jon and his sister showed up excited and ready to do miles they managed to add 10 miles to the end of our day that was great and now all we are waiting for is Curtis, Pumla and Devin and then get them to agree to cover as many miles as possible.

   At 1 am in the morning I got a phone call from the group we were waiting for. They were 75 miles past us. The schedule said that we would be in Chattanooga and that is where they went to. Unfortunately because of the lack of runners we were not there yet. So they spent the night in Chattanooga and would drive to get to us in the morrning. My only hope is that they leave early.

   The next morning we got started with no phone call form Curtis and gang. We got Jon Burkindine and his sister started and we drove up to our start point. Then we got the phone call we were waiting for about 5 minutes later. There they were. We had a circle and I explained the situation to them. We were at a point were we could make it but everyone was going to have to put in at least 20 miles a day. This was the moment! We had to get a yes from these three people or that was it, we weren't going to make it. They never even thought twice. 4 days later Curtis, Pumla, Devin, Jon and Jim were standing at the federal barrier line at Fort Benning Ga.

   With the help of Fran, Larry, Dale, Steve, Jon and Sherry with a lot of prayers from other people that couldn't be with us we had completed our 520 mile jorney all by foot caarying the message that all life is sacred.

Jim Toren Reporting - 12/20/2003
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