From Sea to Shining Sea for American Diabetes.....
By WALLY GALLIAN

BYRON MOATS, JULIA MOATS, MARGIE MOATS AND WYATT MOATS

When Byron Moats, a retired Christian church minister from Napa Valley, California was diagnosed with diabetes, he discussed the benefits of exercise with his doctor. Exercise is critically important for any diabetes patient he was told by the doctor. Moats, a pro-active man, decided to go for a walk. Not around the block or across town, Moats set out and has nearly completed a walk from the Pacific to the Atlantic raising awareness and money for the American Diabetes Association.

Following a year of training and preparation, Moats, his wife Julia, his brother Wyatt and sisterin law Margie set out from San Diego, California. The Moats had two goals: first to raise $10,000 for the American Diabetes Association, and secondly, to raise another $10,000 for trip expenses. Byron, Wyatt and Margie each have diabetes and are doing the walking.

Wyatt had polio at age 10 and was told by doctors that he would never walk again. In high school, he gleefully sent a newspaper clipping to the hospital reporting that he was the California record holder for the one-mile run.

The Moats' average eight hours a day walking not including breaks. They average about 16 miles per day. Julia drives their motor home two miles ahead of the group, prepares cold drinks and waits for the other three to catch up to her. "Julia is the driver, and the medic," said Margie Moats. Collectively, the group had lost 134 pounds by the time they arrived in Emanuel County.

To date, the Moats do not know how much money they have raised for diabetes as donations are put into a general fund. What they do know is that every single person they have met along the way has mentioned someone they know that has diabetes. Their success towards raising awareness and offering a positive approach towards the illness is immeasurable. The Moats are now funding the trip on their own to finish their journey.

Julia Moats was affected by diabetes not only from her husband's illness but by a childhood friend that died from the disease. "We are out here to spread the word about diabetes," Julia commented while in Swainsboro.

The two brothers and their wives have been on the road since Jan. 27 of this year, passing through Swainsboro last week almost at the end of their 2,850 mile walk across America. They expect to dip their feet in the Atlantic Ocean at Tybee Island, this Saturday, Oct. 27 completing their walk across America.

For more information on the Moats' journey, go to C2C4ADA.com. This website contains a daily journal written by Julia and information regarding diabetes and how to make a donation to this worthy cause.

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