85-year-old Northern Illinois man on 560-mile journey to help St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Dean Troutman, an 85-year-old man from Princeville in Northern Illinois, will be walking near the Anna-Jonesboro area with his bright green shirt and yellow buggy Tuesday, July 12. 

He is traveling on foot from his home to Memphis, Tenn. 

The approximately 560-mile-long journey is an effort to raise funds for the families who are receiving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The hospital in Memphis, Tenn., is Troutman’s final destination. 

He has a fundraising goal of $100,000, which would provide meal cards for the families at St. Jude. 

Last year, Troutman pushed his yellow buggy for 700 miles to raise funds and support for Troutman Park. The park was built in honor of Troutman’s wife, Peggy, who died as a result of Parkinson’s disease.

This year, he decided he wanted to walk again, and said – “Who better to raise money for than the kids?”

Family and friends check in with him and call ahead to find meals and lodging for him each day, but Troutman carries a tent with him just in case. 

He walks anywhere from 10 to 25 miles a day, rain or shine. He hopes to complete the walk in about 60 days, making stops along the way at the towns that are significant to the story of how he and Peggy met and were married.

Troutman’s schedule will bring him down Route 37 and through Buncombe this week. He says that he enjoys meeting with people and wants to get the word out about his goal. He says to fee free to say hi if you see him.

To learn how to donate to Troutman’s St. Jude fund and keep up to date with each day of “Troutman’s Trek” at https://www.facebook.com/troutmanstrek/.