Walking across America

Leo Schreven’s bucket list gets closer to another check-off daily. 

The motivational speaker began a Walk Across America on Feb. 9 of this year. 

He plans to complete the journey May 19 in Imperial Beach, Calif. on his 50th birthday. 

When Schreven hit the Crestview city limits Tuesday he had logged 364 miles on his journey and is “right on schedule,” he said, to walk 26 miles a day. 

“Today marks one-seventh of my journey complete,” Schreven said Tuesday.

He posts daily video updates on a website that begin with an “All Power lifestyle” lesson, with positive motivational talks on health – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual issues. He describes his style as a “life mastering lesson.”

“When I was 15, I was living a troubled life, I was beaten and robbed and my life was almost taken,” he said. “By the time I was 19 my life had been radically changed and I was teaching my teachers.” 

Schreven has a large Internet fellowship and conducts a free seminar in the towns and cities where he spends the night. 

“I made a bucket list when I was 17. I had to make something positive happen in my life I thought,” Schreven said. “By the time I was 48 I could look at the list and this Walk Across America was the only thing left on it.

Other items on the bucket list included traveling the world, starting a business and swimming with great white sharks. 

The walk is also a fundraiser for www.kidscharitywalk.com that raises money for ending malnutrition and hunger for young children. 

“I want to live my life so that other people will look at me and think, ‘Wow, I want what he’s got,’” he continued.  “I want to walk the walk and talk the talk as I make this journey.” 

Schreven describes his parents as 1959 immigrants from Holland who did not have much but are proud to watch his walk and celebrate his progress by watching the website daily.

“I have two couples who are retired and are traveling with me, Don and Sheri Yohe and Dr. Randall and Mrs. Loralyn Horning,” he said. “They help with safety and setting up the seminars in churches, and school and libraries across the country. They contact media to help tell this story, and they make this work.”

Sheri makes two fresh vegetable juice drinks per day for the walker. She uses carrots, celery, wheat germ and other vegetables that are available in the area where they are traveling. 

The juices, along with water, energy bars and gum are packed every morning in his backpack that, when loaded, weighs about 18 pounds. By the end of the day, it is down to 4 pounds. 

Safety reflectors, lights, and his ever-present iPhone are also included.  Apple is one of the walk’s sponsors and photos and video are shot and uploaded daily. 

“I’m seeing the very heart of America every day, good salt-of-the-earth people,” he said. “I trust that this will bring positive changes to the lives of those I meet and those who hear of the walk.”

Schreven leaves small information cards with people he meets along the way. 

“Truckers stop sometimes and ask if I need help or what I am doing,” he remarked. “I’ve even had people drive off after meeting me, go up the road, buy a Gatorade and turn around and bring it back to me.” 

Schreven plans to end the walk hand-in-hand with wife, Tamara, and 9-year-old daughter Cierra. 

“It’ll be my 50th birthday and we are planning a great celebration,” he said. 

Once he has finished his walk, Schreven plans to start a new bucket list.