63-Year-Old Kayaking 2,500 Miles for Charity

In an impressive feat of stamina, Maine resident Deb Walters is kayaking the 2,500 miles from her home to Guatemala, and is scheduled to land in Annapolis on Thursday, Oct. 23.

After observing a vast number of children living in extreme poverty among the gasoline fumes in the Guatemala City Garbage Dump, the 63-year-old kayaker and retired scientist resolved to paddle all the way to Guatemala to fundraise for the Safe Passage School, which provides necessary education for the area’s at-risk children.

Docking at the City Dock at 1 Dock Street in Annapolis at around 2 p.m., Walters will be available to speak with local residents about her mission.

Along her journey, Walters will stop to give presentations at schools and other groups in both small towns and larger cities, all while recording her travels on her daily blog and twitter account.

Walters has reached about 50 percent of her $150,000 fundraising goal so far. The money she hopes to raise will add a 3rd and 4th grade to the Safe Passage school system.

Paddling since July, Walters is a grandmother, retired scientist, university leader, and kayaking adventurer who embarked on solo expeditions in the Atlantic, the Arctic, and in the tropic waters around Mexico.

Supporters of her mission may help Walters along the way by sponsoring per mile, attending one of her events, or---though the dedicated kayaker travels with food, water, and camping gear---offering up a bed for a night of sleep.

Visit the real-time GPS tracking of her kayaking course along the Eastern coastal shore here

For more updates on Walters’s journey, follow her website, Twitter, or Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Safe Passage

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