Spina Bifida Association

of Washington State

formerly, the Evergreen Spina Bifida Association

Don Stevenson

The Pacin’ Parson

Auburn Washington’s Don Stevenson is at it again, walking over 300 miles to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse in Ilwaco, WA and back to raise awareness for the Spina Bifida Association of Washington State.  He is 74 and will be walking 30 miles a day!

Walking for others, to encourage and inspire.

You can support Don’s efforts by making a contribution to the Spina Bifida Association of Washington State

Online at www.firstgiving.com/sbaws

Or send a check noting “Walk to the Light” to:

Spina Bifida Association of Washington State

2128 N. Pines Road, Suite 17-3

Spokane, WA  99206

March 18 - April 5, 2010

Don was born in Columbus, Ohio on January 4th, 1936 in the middle of a snow storm.  He was number four of eight children.  He dropped out of high school to join the US Marine Corps in 1954.    

After leaving the Marines in January, 1957 he completed 3 years of high school and 4 years of college in 4 years, receiving his high school diploma in 1959, and his Bachelor of Theology Degree (cum laude) in 1961.

Don lives in Auburn, WA.  He is a Christian author, former school teacher, pastor, volunteer firefighter, and truck driver.  

After 28 years of service with Darigold Inc. he retired in 1994 to devote his time to writing.

He and his lovely wife Loretta have been married since 1983.  Don says of her, “She’s such a game soul and a real sport!  I’m a hard man to love, but she makes it look so easy.”

Of his reason for walking, Don explains, “God has blessed me with good health, and out of gratitude I’ve tried sharing that blessing with those who are less fortunate. I'm a happy, wealthy man.  I don't possess much of this world's goods, but I do possess that which money cannot purchase—Love, Joy, and Peace!”

• Don has logged over 40,000 miles of walking for various charities since 1998.
• at age 62 (1998) he walked (3,000 miles) from Seattle to Portland, Maine for Alzheimer’s;

• at age 63 (1999) he walked (900 miles) to lighthouses in Washington State for Alzheimer’s;
• at age 64 (2000) he walked (4,000 miles) from Tijuana, Mexico to Anchorage, Alaska for Multiple Sclerosis;
• at age 65 (2001) he walked (3,000 miles) for Multiple Sclerosis from Seattle to New York City; at age 66 (2002) he walked 8,000 miles in Auburn, WA’s Game Farm Park for Multiple Sclerosis;
• at age 67 (2003) he walked a thousand miles over 12 of Washington State’s mountain highway passes for Alzheimer’s,
• at age 68 (2004) he hiked round trip from Auburn, WA (c200 miles) to Mt. Rainier for  the Maria Federicci Trust Fund;
• at age 68 (2004) he climbed to the 12,300 foot level of Mt. Rainier for the American Lung Association.
• at age 68 (2004) he hiked 106 miles blindfolded across the Cascade Range for the Maria Federicci Trust Fund;
• at age 69 (2005) he hiked 1,750 miles to all the county seats in Washington State for Alzheimer’s;
• at age 70 (2006) he hiked 2,400 miles to all 88 counties of Ohio for the American Cancer Society.
• At age 71 (2007) he began a 13,000 mile walk for Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
• At age 72 (2008) he finished the 13,000 mile walk for the HDSA by walking from the Seattle Space Needle to New York City’s Empire State Building.
• At age 73 (2009) he walked 360 miles to raise awareness for the Spina Bifida Association of Washington State.

• At age 73 (2009). besides giving moral support for Make A Wish Foundation, He walked 280 miles from Cleveland, Ohio to Cincinnati for Special Needs Kids of the Special Olympics Organization.