B.J. Timoner’s on-the-job training is paying off for him and an organization dedicated to researching pancreatic cancer.
The 43-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., resident passed through Iola Saturday as part of B.J. Walks America, a cross-country walk to benefit the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
The trek is fulfilling a lifelong dream of Timoner’s, who lost both his grandfather and father to pancreatic cancer.
“I lost my dad when I was 5 years old,” Timoner said. “This means a lot to me.”
The goal, he said, is to reach Beth Page, N.Y., by the last week in June. He began the trek Jan. 1 in Santa Monica, Calif.
Timoner tries to walk between 18 and 20 miles daily, he said.
“It’s gone pretty well,” he said. “The kindness of people I’ve met has helped a great deal.”
There were health concerns.
Timoner cut short an earlier trek in 2011 because of a minor heart attack — he picked up where he left off about four months later to complete the journey — and “I wasn’t in the best of shape when I started this trip,” he acknowledged.
But the steady exercise has been beneficial.
“I feel great,” he said. “I haven’t had any troubles.”
Timoner is actually ahead of schedule. He passed through Iola two days earlier than he predicted when mapping out his course.
He hopes to reach St. Louis, Mo., by April 29, and through Ohio by the end of May.
If all goes well, Timoner will double back along the southern United States, walking from Tybee Island, Ga., back to Santa Monica, a total of 5,800 miles in all.
Information about Timoner’s trip is available online at bjwalksamerica.com. The website also contains a link to the Lustgarten Foundation.
Cross-country walker passes through Iola
