Disabilities Blog

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Congratulations Neil! Sauter's stiltwalk helped raise $70,000

One last bit of belated congratulations to Neil Sauter, who's 8-week stiltwalk across Michigan was chronicled in his Detroit News disability blog, for raising almost $21,000 for United Cerebral Palsy assistive tech programs.

Thanks to a 3-1 match by the federal government through a grant to UCP, Sauter's efforts ended up generating a little over $70,000.

To donate to UCP, click here.

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 56: The big finish!

Friday morning I had the pleasure of beginning my last 15 miles with my father by my side. Later in the morning I was joined by my mom, sister and fiance. I was overjoyed to share my experience with my family and incredibly sad that my journey was coming to an end.

As I walked through Bessemer, Mich., the high school band interrupted its practice to march with me down the road, creating quite a parade.

As I approached Ironwood, my grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin arrived and stopped to say hello.

Once in town, I saw several signs declared, "Congratulations Neil!" and other messages of inspiration. Stopping a mile short of the border I spent the remainder of the day visiting the waterfalls of the Black River with my family.

Saturday morning the Comfort Inn hosted a breakfast for me and my fans. I had the great pleasure of being joined by Joe Bowen, the man who walked from California to Kentucky on stilts in 1980.

For the last mile I was accompanied by family, friends and a police escort. After many pictures we all walked back to the Welcome Center where the city of Ironwood and UCP organized a reception in my honor. I shared a few of my favorite memories of my trip before receiving some special acknowledgements for my efforts: A key to the city of Ironwood and a plaque, a tribute from Gov. Jennifer Granholm, an honored membership as a Kentucky Colonel (delivered by Joe Bowen) and a scrapbook from UCP.

I couldn't help but tear up. It was a beautiful day and a fantstic ending to my unforgetable trek across Michigan.

Thanks to my sponsors and host Lincoln Park Elementary of Mona Shores, New Bedford Academy of Lambertville and Abigail and Aiden Richardson.

For more information about my completed 830-mile stilt walk across Michigan visit www.stiltstory.org or www.ucpmichigan.org

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 54: Almost there

After getting a ride back to my starting point from Amanda of the Ewen Medical Clinic I was greeted this morning by an encouraging note on the sign I stopped at.

I walked briskly for 11 miles before taking my first break in Bergland. My pack was taken ahead for me and there was plenty of cloud cover despite the heat. I was invited into lunch at Antonio's.

My afternoon walk was very enjoyable as I was joined for 2 miles by Sarah from Ontanogan who drove about 30 miles just to walk with me. In the evening my parents and sister Renae arrived and I was thrilled to see them again. Renae walked with me for another 5 miles bringing my total to 28 for the day and leaving me 15 miles from the border!

For more information about my 830 mile stilt walk across Michigan visit www.stiltstory.org or www.ucpmichigan.org

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 52: I can almost see the finish line

My hosts from last night, Chris and Jennifer, took me to see Bond Falls this morning. It was absolutely amazing.

It was another hot and windy day and I was able to walk backpack free as I had a volunteer to drive it up the road. The people of Ewen were generous; they brought lunch out to me on the road and bought my dinner at the local bar.

I walked three miles west of Ewen and then got a ride back into town to stay for the night.

The finish line is getting closer.

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 50: Presentations kick off warm day

I started off the morning giving two presentations. One for a group of high schoolers at Presbytery Point and also for campers at Camp Michigamme.

I started the week off a little bit ahead of schedule in an attempt to shorten some of the days this week. Today I walked about 20 miles to Covington. It was a very warm day to walk. I am on schedule and nearing the finish. I am excited to see all my friends and family in Ironwood.

Thanks to my sponsors and host: Lincoln Park Elementary of Mona Shores, New Bedford Academy of Lambertville and Abigail and Aiden Richardson.

Check out my Web site, www.stiltstory.org, for more information about my planned 830-mile walk around Michigan to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 49: Marquette area great for support, recreation

I have had a wonderful time in the Marquette area. I was well covered by the media and received much support and donations.

Thursday evening I went to Bay Cliff Health Camp and gave an assembly. I had heard good things about the camp for weeks and it lived up to its reputation.

Friday, the Superior Alliance for Independent Living hosted a breakfast in my honor and I talked to a small group about my trip and about the history of people with disabilities. After that, I talked at a day care center and a radio station before heading toward Ishpeming.

The brace around my right calf broke off as I was leaving town and I took fall No. 8. Napa came out to check on me and gave me some spare bolts to repair the part. I also took spill No. 9 when I tripped Saturday, almost got hit by a construction cone that a passing car hit and had a car tire fall off and come rolling at me.

For the weekend ,some friends I met in Marquette brought me back to town and showed me some of the favorite sites. I hiked Sugarloaf Mountain and visited Dead River Falls.

Thanks to my sponsors and host: Lincoln Park Elementary of Mona Shores, New Bedford Academy of Lambertville, Abigail and Aiden Richardson, Brittany Beckman and Josh Brinkman.

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Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Neil steps UP: journey on stilts reaches Upper Peninsula

Neil Sauter's journey across the state on stilts has reached Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Kicking off May 5, Sauter - who has a mild form of CP - has walked about 600 miles of his planned 830-mile trip. So far, Neil's efforts to raise money for UCP assistive technology programs has earned about $15,000.

As he stilt walks across the UP, his connection to the Internet may come and go, but check out his Disabilities blog posts at detnews.com and more details of his latest adventures.

You can view Neil's Web site, www.stiltstory.org for more information about his 830-mile walk around Michigan to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 43: Ignored in Escanaba

Friday, I pushed ahead and ended my week 8 miles ahead of schedule. I enjoyed a nice weekend of camping at Indian Lake State Park in Manistique in the Upper Peninsula with Kelly, her sister Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's kids, Abigail and Aiden. We visited an incredible nearby spring, which bubbles up through the sand creating the appearance that you are looking down at the top of a volcano.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Bradshaw family of Cooks, Mich., who gave me a ride back toward the campground and took my backpack ahead to Rapid River.

Sunday afternoon I was back on the road with a new pair of stilts. They felt amazingly comfortable! I made it into Rapid River a day ahead of schedule and decided to use my extra day taking a side trip to Escanaba in hopes of acquiring some publicity. I have so much more success raising money when the local media covers my story before I get to town, so I was reluctant to arrive ahead of schedule in Marquette.

Hardly a sole in the Escanaba area knew why I was walking. Besides a reporter from the paper who came out to write a story I only had two people stop all day.

I was still glad I came to Escanaba as I have never been there before. It has a nice solar system replica downtown and Steve from the Michigan Department of Transportation was nice enough to give me an escort over a narrow bridge as I crossed the Escanaba River.

Thanks to my sponsors and host: Lincoln Park Elementary of Mona Shores, New Bedford Academy of Lambertville, Peggy and Tom Nieman, Sintra Dukecordier, Mary K. Case, Dune Shores Resort, Kings Motel, Bob and Angela Tramper, Jim Harmes, Comfort Inn and Sall-Mar Resort.

Check out my Web site, www.stiltstory.org, for more information about my planned 830-mile walk around Michigan to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.

Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 39: Here in the UP

I have had some trouble finding Internet service here in the Upper Peninsula and apologize for the delay in my journal.

Since entering the Upper Peninsula I have been traveling west along US 2, which has a wide comfortable shoulder. Being on the same road for so many days in a row has its benefits as people who have seen me more than once will often stop to ask what is going on while others call ahead to their friends. Word is spreading of my adventure here in the UP.

Each time I walk into a store or restaurant I am told to take whatever I need on the house or that someone else has picked up the tab. I would not be able to do the walk without the generosity of others and I have been blessed with excellent support. Part of the reason why I wanted to take the walk was to give back the generosity that was shown to me through a scholarship, but I have received so much on this trip that I now owe far more than I did when I started.

Much like all of the Midwest I have been getting wet on a daily basis as of late. But I am on schedule, doing well and excited about using a new pair of stilts once I reach Garder Corners.

Thanks to my sponsors and host: Lincoln Park Elementary of Mona Shores, New Bedford Academy of Lambertville, Peggy and Larry Nieman, Sintra Dukecordier, Mary K. Case and Dune Shores Resort, Kings Motel, Bob and Angela Tramper, Jim Harmes and Comfort Inn.

Check out my Web site, www.stiltstory.org, for more information about my planned 830-mile walk around Michigan to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.

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Category: Neil Sauter walks on stilts for CP

Day 33: I've made it to the bridge!

Yesterday, first thing in the morning, I gave a talk at Tendercare Health Center of Cheboygan. I had a great time and received a walking escort from some of the residents out to the road.

I started my walking day by heading back to Leverin, 18 miles south of the bridge, with my new friends Micah, Blackie and Micah's "girlfriend" along with me for the first 3 miles.

We stopped for lunch and instead of walking north to the bridge I turned directly east and walked 15 miles into Cheboygan along a loose gravel shoulder through a rain storm. It was emotionally difficult to know that each step I took was actually taking me farther away from getting to the bridge. But I had scheduled to walk through Cheboygan and wanted to honor that promise. When I approached the city limits a seventh grade student named Adam was waiting for me on his bicycle to escort me into town. I was very happy that I had made the extra effort to walk to Cheboygan.

Today I was joined by my fiance, Kelly, for the 16-mile trek up to the bridge from Cheboygan. My friend, Jake, also met me on the road as I approached Mackinaw City. Together we walked down to the Straits of Mackinac and stood under the bridge!

Andrea, who is on the UCP board, and her son, Nathan, took us to dinner and then we were on our way to the Island House on Mackinac Island.

Thanks to my sponsors and host: Lincoln Park Elementary of Mona Shores, New Bedford Academy of Lambertville, Doug and Kathy Case and the Island House Hotel.

Check out my Web site, www.stiltstory.org, for more information about my planned 830-mile walk around Michigan to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.