Larry Johnson is ready to walk: 61 miles on his 61st birthday to raise $61,000 for two important causes.
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A journey of 61 miles begins with the 61 bus
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By Tricia Cornell
Age 61 isn't a landmark for most people. But, Twin Cities resident Larry Johnson found that the number 61 just kept popping up in his life. His dad died at age 61. In 1961, Johnson took a 50-mile hike to promote fitness. That's also the year the Twins came to town. He works on two nonprofit efforts - Operation America Cares and the Peace Garden Project in Minneapolise - that, surprise, could each use about $61,000 to reach their goals. A sign? Maybe. Johnson decided to take notice. "I didn't sit and think this up, it just happened," he said. "I was sitting in a totally unrelated meeting ... and it just started to flood over me: I'm going to take a 61-mile hike on my 61st birthday and raise the rest of the money for these two projects. And then it just took on a life of its own." He looked at the map and saw Highway 61 snaking up to Lindstrom, where his Swedish family is from. The number 61 bus crossed Highway 61 in St. Paul. It was meant to be. And so, on Aug. 9, Johnson's 61st birthday, at 6:10 a.m., he will begin his second hike more or less where the first one began, near the site of his boyhood farm, now the Mall of America. He will take the light rail to downtown Minneapolis, then the number 61 bus to St. Paul, where he will start hiking north toward Lindstrom. He expects to arrive at 6:10 p.m. at the Dinnerbel restaurant, to celebrate with 61 friends. He will complete his 61 miles the next day by walking from Taylor's Falls back to the Twin Cities. The proceeds he raises in his efforts will support two causes close to Johnson's heart: building a new bridge in the peace garden near Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, and creating a live video hookup between Twin Cities families and soldiers deployed in Iraq. Johnson is hoping his walk will inspire people to make donations (from $.61 to $61 to $6,100) to the Peace Garden Project and Operation America Cares. He can be reached at topstory7 @comcast.net or 612-747-3904.
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