PAGE 10A, BUNA BEACON
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012
“World Guy” journeys around the globe for a diabetic cure By Tina Cooley Beacon Reporter Drivers along TX St. Hwy. 62 and U.S. Hwy. 96 got a glimpse of an unusual sight this past week a broad, tall man pushing a giant inflated globe, and walking along with his dog, Nice. Known as ‘World Guy’, Erik Bendl, a Kentucky native, is pacing his steps to accomplish the dream of trekking across all of the lower 48 states in an effort to raise diabetes awareness. Bendl’s mom died several years back at the age of 54 following a battle with diabetes. His uncle, who was diagnosed at age 40, also died as a result of the disease. As a result of the personal losses he experienced, Bendl began looking for a way to help
fight the disease. The inspiration came in the form of a routine afternoon trip to the park with his son. Bendl and his son often took the giant 6-foot globe, given to him by a friend in 1988, to the park. A reporter saw the pair playing in the park and asked him if he’d consider walking with the globe for charity. Bendl’s response was a defining “Yes, in honor of my mother.” Currently on his sixth trek, Bendl plans to end his current venture in mid-April around the Dallas area. He began walking for the cure to diabetes in 2007. With 34 states behind him, he’s well on his way to the goal of crossing through the lower 48. Bendl’s son, now 20, walked with him during a recent trip that
took them from Washington, D.C. to Maine, a 750 mile walk. Bendl blogs about his journeys on a Blackberry he keeps on a cord around his neck. His latest entry, on Sunday, Mar. 4 begins: “The cold and windy day out of Buna began in the dark. Before I had walked a few minutes, a young man came to talk. He had just looked up Worldguy and wanted to thank me, he had lost his father recently to diabetes. The wind was relentless. All day I crossed from one side of the highway to the other to rest the arm I was pushing with. The cold front crept in as I had to push in the grass, the wind challenged my resolve blowing harder and harder. More and more people stopped, all seemed to have or be
affected by diabetes through friends or family.” Bendl’s website is www.worldguy.org, and he also has a Facebook page. The website contains blogs about his journey as welll as links to donate to diabetes and related charities. The World Diabetes Foundation website reports that an estimated 285 million people, corresponding to 6.4% of the world’s adult population, will live with diabetes in 2010. The number is expected to grow to 438 million by 2030, corresponding to 7.8% of the adult population. Opportunities exist locally and abroad to donate as well as raise awareness of diabetes. Locally, The Area Agency on Aging of Deep East Texas will be
holding a series of workshops on “Taking Control of Your Chronic Disease”. Workshops are scheduled for six consecutive weeks beginning Wednesday, Mar. 21 through
Apr. 25 and will be held from 9:30 a.m. until noon at the Buna Volunteer Fire Department Hall. To register for the workshop, or get additional information, call Bobbie Stott at (409) 384-7614
“WORLD GUY” AND his dog, Nice, walk all over for diabetes awareness, and they passed through Buna last week.
Business Review
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