“A Journey for 9/11” charitable cross-country trek to end in San Diego

Retired NFL great George Martin announced that his coast-to-coast charitable walk, “A Journey for 9/11,” will conclude in San Diego, Calif., rather than in San Francisco, as originally planned. Mr. Martin’s 3,000-plus-mile trek to benefit ailing Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers is projected to end in late June 2008.

As Mr. Martin crossed western portions of the nation in recent weeks, he re-routed to take a more southern path that will bring him through Phoenix for special ceremonies there in late May, instead of through the northern regions of Arizona. As such, he and his walking team will now cross into California further south than first charted. His path can be tracked daily via a GPS system accessible at www.ajourneyfor911.info.

“While I’m sorry that we won’t be seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and all the wonderful people in San Francisco who support our mission as originally planned, I’m thrilled to be heading to San Diego to complete this adventure,” says Martin. “San Diego is truly one of the nation’s finest, most beautiful cities, and we look forward to ending our cross-country trek there soon.” Martin noted that the Journey team is now scoping out sites to stage end-of-journey events in San Diego.

As it has from the trek’s onset, when Martin left New York on Sept. 16, 2007, the Journey route changes occasionally to accommodate weather conditions, terrain challenges and special fundraising ceremonies and events. To date, Martin, now crossing New Mexico, has walked every step of more than 2,200 miles through portions of 11 states.

“As George and the team moved west and the seasons changed, it became clear that a more southern route and end destination made more sense than continuing the last leg of his trek north,” says John Kirksey, president of the board of directors of a Journey for 9/11. “Routing to San Diego rather than San Francisco eliminates hundreds of miles of walking in extreme heat, and brings the walking part of this ongoing initiative to an end about a month earlier than going up north, though still later than originally envisioned. Finishing in San Diego presents a safer, more practical conclusion, allowing George to move into the next phase of Journey’s fundraising work in support of these heroic Ground Zero responders.”

The Medical Problems of Working at Ground Zero
Mr. Martin is raising millions of dollars to provide healthcare for 9/11 responders who are suffering from lung disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious medical conditions stemming from their service at Ground Zero after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Medical studies indicate that working at Ground Zero led to serious, long-term medical problems for thousands of responders: 3.6 percent of World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers reported developing asthma after exposure to dust and debris from working at the site, 12 times the rate of the normal adult population. And, according to the NYC 

Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, one in eight of nearly 30,000 WTC rescue and recovery workers developed post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition found to be highest among WTC volunteers.

About George Martin, the Route and the Journey Team
George Martin, vice president of sports marketing for AXA Equitable, was a star defensive end and co-captain of the Super Bowl XXI Champion New York Giants (1986). During his 14 NFL seasons (1975–1988), the longtime Giant scored eight touchdowns—seven of them as a defensive lineman, which set an NFL record that stood until 2007. Martin is a former president of the NFL Players Association.

On his Journey, Martin is walking through portions of 13 states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. In October, he also passed through Washington, D.C.

Martin, now 55, trained more than 3 months for this trek. Throughout his travels, he is accompanied by a security officer; an advance person/technology specialist who is documenting and routing the journey; and a driver who trails in a customized SUV.

For his charitable efforts, Martin was named one of ABC News’ 2007 “Persons of the Year.” He received the second annual and prestigious Heisman Humanitarian Award from the Heisman Trophy Trust in December.  In May, Mr. Martin will break from the route to accept an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Donations
To make a tax deductible financial donation, mail a check to “A  Journey for 9/11,” c/o Valley National Bank, P.O. Box 707, Wayne, NJ 07474-0707.

Contributions can also be made at www.ajourneyfor911.info or by calling 800/889-8038.