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Where Matt Griffin is going to college, many would fly. Some would drive. He is walking.

Griffin, who graduated from Jackson High School on Friday, is going to Gordon College, a small private school north of Boston about 800 miles from Jackson. Griff said he likes walking and being outdoors and the idea just came to him. "It kind of started off as a joke, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it was possible," Griffin said. "It's a good way to start college." Griff, who plans to major in math and minor in education, has done his homework. His trek starts July 1 and he plans to arrive in time for freshman orientation Aug. 25, which means he'll have to average 15 miles a day while carrying a 40-pound backpack containing a tent, stove and two days of food. "I think I can actually do a little more than that," Griffin said.

Griffin, who learned to camp on trips with his parents, already took a three-day test walk from the Ohio-Michigan border to Jackson over Mother's Day weekend and 15 miles a day was no problem. And two weeks before he departs, he will be giving his5-foot-8-inch, 130-pound body a tuneup by hiking in the Appalachian Mountains. "I'll be in good condition by then," Griff said. Matt's parents, were uneasy about his walk, but they're helping out by taking the rest of his stuff to Massachusetts. "I tried to be supportive without being encouraging," his dad said. "I'm hesitant to let him go, but that's because I'm his mother," said his mother.

Griffin is aware that people could "mess with him" while he is walking but he isn't worried about it. He said he will ask permission to pitch his tent on people's property. "I have a lot of faith in people that they're going to be OK," Griff said. On his test walk, several motorists stopped to say hi and offer him a ride and when he asked a couple if they knew any place he could camp, they offered their back yard. Matt's grandfather, Neil Artman of Cincinnati, who is here to attend Griff's graduation, is all for the walk and he is aware of the dangers of the road. Now in his 70s, Artman went on long trips out west on his motorcycle when he was in his 40s. He said being on the road is like life itself, and while there are dangers along the way, you have to face them. "I think it's a crazy idea and I think a young man like him ought to try it," Artman said.

Matt is taking precautions. He has already mapped the route, which is mostly along back roads to avoid traffic, and is driving it next week. And on the walk he will carry a cell phone so he can call his parents daily and set up weekly meetings with family and friends to get his mail and supplies. Matt's walk isn't just a personal journey. He is using it to raise funds for the American Heart Association. "They say walking is one of the best things for the heart, so it just made sense," he said. Libby Brown, a Jackson High School government teacher, said she is proud one of her students is giving back to the community. "It gives me faith in students that they can do good things," Brown said. Brown said it also speaks well of Griff that he is embarking on an 800-mile walk when some of her students complain about making a half-mile walk to the county courthouse. "Anything to him is achievable," Brown said. "I wish him every success."

To make a donation, write a check to Jackson High School and send it to the high school, 544 Wildwood Ave, Jackson, MI 49203.  Indicate that the check is for Matt Griffin's walk and the school will forward it to the American Heart Association.
 

July 1:  Left home at 11 a.m. after meeting with a reporter from Channel 6 WLNS TV News.  Stopped at a friend's graduation open house for several hours.  Spent the night at Portage Lake campground.

July 3:  Stopped at a school in Brighton for the night.  Lost a water bottle and had to replace it.

July 4:  Dad and sister met him to resupply him and treat him to homemade chocolate ice cream.

July 5:  Stopped in Pontiac to do laundry.  Spent the night on the campus of Oakland University.

July 6:  Called home at noon from Rochester.  Stopped for a break after making a wrong turn, only his second of the trip.  Tired of 2 days of cities and traffic.  He'll be glad when he gets to the peace and quiet of Canada.

July 7:  Hotel at last...in Marysville.  Looks like he'll be crossing into Canada tomorrow...2 days ahead of his original schedule.

July 8:  Crossed the Blue Water Bridge at 2 pm.  Now treading on foreign soil.  He became a true celebrity today.  Several kids asked him what he was doing.  When he explained about his walk, they were so impressed that they asked for (and received) his autograph!

July 10: Stopped for the night at a hotel in Hickory Corner, Ontario, just west of London.  Sunburned and possible poison ivy rash but doing good.

July 17: Reached Niagra Falls.  He'll spend a well deserved rest day there.  Friends and family met up with him to welcome him back into the States.  He had to panhandle for a quarter to cross the bridge.  His smallest bill was a $20 and had 36 cents in change.  He needed 50 cents to cross and the change machines wouldn't take a $20.

July 20: I (mom) met Matt in Akron, New York.  He was sitting on the front porch of a house talking to a family.  They had stopped him as he was passing to find out his story.  In return, they fed him pizza and gave him a glass of milk.  It's nice to know there are such wonderful people out there.

July 21: Matt slept in, finally getting on the road at noon.  The heat was pretty bad so I took his pack up the road a few miles before heading back to Michigan.

July 23:  Reached LeRoy, NY.  Hadn't gone very far the past 2 days since it had been extremely hot.  He got invited to a graduation party and later was invited to watch a movie.  He accepted both invitations.

July 24:  Called from Avon, NY.  Reached the 1/2 mark!!!  Hurray Matt!!!

July 31:  Spent the night in Morrisville, NY.  Managed to spill have his dinner while cooking it.  Accidently knocked over his stove.  Still in good spirits though.

August 3: Got lost in Schenectady.  Tried to follow his dad's shortcut directions but the road didn't go through.  Finally got out of Schenectady only to get caught in a thunderstorm.  Got drenched because his pack was waiting for him up the road with his raingear in it.

August 4: His aunt and uncle from Rhode Island caught up with him.  They found him in an ice cream parlour waiting out another thunderstorm.  He enjoyed this storm better because he didn't get soaked.

August 5:  Crossed the state border from New York to Vermont.  Now officially in New England.  He's been asked by several people to slow down so they can make plans to meet him at the end of his journey.  Maybe now that he's out of New York he'll do that.  He's been getting the guestbook entries read to him whenever he calls home.  Sends thanks to all who have provided encouragement.

August 6: He's in Wilmington, Vermont and expects to reach New Hampshire tomorrow.  His current arrival date is now expected to be on August 13th.  He wants as many people to be at the finish as possible, so he'll slow down to accommodate as many people as possible.

August 7: Arrived in New Hampshire.

August 8: His uncle met up with him.  Gave him water and ice.  Ten minutes later the ice had melted and 10 minutes after that the water was warm again.  He did enjoy spending time with his uncle though.

August 9:  Matt called from Fitzwilliam, NH this afternoon.  Everything is going well except for the heat, but he's coping well with that.  Reporters and American Heart Assoc. have been calling to publicize Matt's arrival at Gordon.  Lots of last minute planning taking place.  Matt's ETA at Gordon is around 10:30 a.m.  He'll have plenty of company for the last mile.

August 9 Update:  Arrived in Massachusetts around 9:30 pm.  Final state!

August 10:  His new college roommate, Andy, met up with Matt and walked several miles with him.  They got along great!

August 11:  Called from Lowell, MA.  He figures he has about 35 more miles to go.  Ten more today and then 20 tomorrow and an easy 5 miles on Monday.  The end is in sight!