Judy Benjamin is walking 3,000 miles coast to coast
By Jon Johnson
PIMA — If people are lucky enough to reach 80 years of age, the most action their feet are likely to see is when they lift the footrest on their chair. Then there are special humans, like Judy Benjamin, who not only reversed a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s but has also undertaken a trek walking 3,000 miles across America to raise health awareness.
“I’m going to be 81 next month, and I’m doing this for a number of reasons, but to really show that age is kind of just a number and to encourage people, regardless of your age, to get out there and walk,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin is following the Adventure Cycling Association Southern Tier route across the U.S.A. Starting in San Diego, she recently passed her 500-mile milestone on her way to St. Augustine, Florida. Proceeds from her walk will go toward Alzheimer’s research.
On Thursday, she made her way through Pima before heading to a hotel in Safford for the night.
Benjamin is a former anthropologist and a board-certified health and wellness coach specializing in brain health. She said she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 67 and managed to reverse it through lifestyle changes.
“Now I’ve got my brain back and I’m doing this to really show people that hey, if you get a diagnosis with memory loss, there’s a lot you can do about it.”
Benjamin has been walking for over a month and has less than 2,500 miles. She told the Gila Herald she plans to reach her destination by October.
She wears flat “barefoot” shoes when walking and says they help ground her to feel the earth beneath her feet and keep her stable. And since she began using walking sticks, her pace has increased to nearly 20 miles daily.
“Walking is the most natural thing a human being can do,” Benjamin said. “It’s not running. It’s not racing or anything like that. It’s just putting one foot in front of the other and walking.”
As she makes her way across America, Benjamin continues to grow fans and says she has met some of the nicest and most interesting people on her journey.
“I have people now waving and honking as I go by,” Benjamin said.
However, a sobering reality of her trek is how much garbage is strewn about our roadways.
“One of the things that’s probably most disappointing to me is that people litter so much,” Benjamin said. “They throw so much out of their cars. I mean, thousands of beer bottles and beer cans and soda cans and all of that is just disappointing because the country is so beautiful, and I’m seeing it from eye level.
I think it just surprised me because when you’re driving by in a car, you really don’t see all of that. And I think when I finish this walk, I’m going to get on a campaign to stop messing up our country. You know, stop littering.”
However, Benjamin’s primary motivation is to show what is possible even at an advanced age.
“Get off the couch and walk – if it’s just around your neighborhood or down the street or wherever,” Benjamin said.
Michele Gentile is filming and documenting Judy Benjamin’s journey across America. His work can be seen at judywalks.com or on social media, such as @judywalksamerica on Instagram and YouTube.
