Oct. 18 was a special day at the Staunton Senior Center. We had a guest speaker, Sandra Powell,who attempted to run across the country in order to raise money for AIDS orphans. Her story first caught the attention of Program Director Lori Pullin as she read about Sandy in the newspaper. Sandy agreed to come to tell us her amazing story; we got a glimpse of her story as well as her spirit.
Sandy, her husband Ben, and good friend Sarah Irvine started out from Los Angeles en route to New York City. Even though she could not complete the journey due to stress fractures, the group raised $2,500, learned much about themselves and fellow citizens and viewed sight after sight of wonderful if not sometimes desolate parts of the United States.
Much of their trip was along Rt. 66 which used to be the major route across the country. Sandy said they experienced only positive aspects of the people who reside on the back roads and small towns of America who were so gracious and open-hearted to them, providing water and other needed items along the way. The crew passed through California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas where they had to terminate the journey after 1,500 miles!
SSC members greatly enjoyed all the pictures and stories that Sandy and Sarah provided, as well as the inspiration provided by their remarkable story! Sandy, who gives all the credit to the support of her husband and friend Sarah, ended her presentation by saying that she found it is not material things that matter in this life, but ipeople and family.
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