FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - A man has finally returned home after walking 1,300 miles from South Florida to the White House to raise awareness for childhood obesity.
Friends and family surprised Dahrnaz Tigner as he arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Wednesday. “Surprised for all of these people standing around, so thank you,” Tigner said.
Tigner left his home in Pompano Beach and traveled across the country to the White House, all by foot. When asked what the greatest obstacle he encountered was, he responded, “Probably the heat. I wanna say the heat and those days where I had to walk 13, 14 miles without water,” he said.
The 52-day-journey Tigner called “The Walk of Hearts” was intended to raise awareness for childhood obesity. The journey was partly inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, and Tigner’s sister who struggled with obesity. “I wanted to do something to inspire my sister, but when I saw how big of a problem it was, I knew I had to do more to try to inspire as many kids as possible,” he said.
Tigner carried a 55 pound bag during his journey and walked through whatever weather Mother Nature had in store for him. “I just want kids to know that we are there for them, like they’re not in this fight alone,” he said.
Tigner said his goal was to walk 30 miles a day. However, there was one day where he traveled a total of 37 miles.
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