It’s an amazingly ambitious, tremendously compelling humanitarian event that’s calling America to “walk barefoot” this October to benefit a world in which the gift of a pair of shoes can be life-changing to a child.

That’s the short definition of “World Walk,” the fulfillment of Nigerian-born Samaritan’s Feet founder Emmanual “Manny” Ohonme’s passion to provide shoes for the world’s neediest children—a mission that to date is on course to bring 10 million “soles” to the feet of the impoverished people of the world.

Founding Samaritan’s Feet in a world community where today more than 300 million children are without shoes, perhaps more than almost anyone else, Manny Ohonme profoundly knows firsthand the hope a pair of shoes can bring.

The seeds of the vision of Samaritan’s Feet to shod the world’s poor were planted some 28 years ago on a hot summer afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria, when a missionary gave a poor barefoot African child a pair of tennis shoes. That 9-year-old boy was Manny Ohonme and the shoes helped him begin a journey that ultimately allowed him to play basketball, receive a scholarship from a U.S. university, and go on to receive both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of North Dakota. In 2003, Manny left a lucrative career in the technology industry to devote his life to founding Samaritan’s Feet.

To date, through the efforts of the organization, more than three quarters of a million pairs of shoes have been delivered to children in need globally. The outreach has grown to include medical supply resources for children affected with diseases—such as in Guatemala where ringworm and other infectious outbreaks are often a result of being barefoot in unsanitary living conditions.

THE WALK:
On October 11, Manny Ohonme will put his feet where his heart is, and once again go barefoot. This time, to begin a 300-mile “barefoot walk” to raise awareness for Samaritan’s Feet and its global mission. To him, it is a personal journey to fulfill a God-given dream of giving back. It’s a mission for which the Charlotte, North Carolina, based non-profit humanitarian organization is enlisting a lot of famous—and not so famous—feet to join them. NASCAR is a major supporter that will help launch the “World Walk” from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, on Saturday, October 11. In conjunction, the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup series and Speedway Children’s Charities, a “Barefoot Breakfast” will be held. The Nationwide Garage at Lowe’s Motor Speedway will be the host site for the morning kick-off event, which is expected to draw major names from the world of NASCAR, as well as the NBA and NFL. Guests will be asked to check their shoes at the door.

Charlotte is the starting point of Ohonme’s two-week barefoot walk  through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, concluding at Atlanta’s Motor Speedway on October 26. Along the way, the gift of shoes to those in need will be distributed at designated stops in Greenville, South Carolina, (Oct. 16) and Athens, Georgia, on Oct. 20. On October 25th, prior to its conclusion at Atlanta’s Motor Speedway, the “World Walk”  will be joined by walkers from around the globe in a world encompassing “simul-walk.” Pre-arranged shoe distribution points in South Africa, Haiti, Peru, Malawi, Nigeria and 25 other countries served by Samaritan’s Feet are organized simultaneously to have thousands of participants join the walk in their own respective countries.

THE GOALS:
At the conclusion of the 2008 World Walk, Ohonme and his team hope to have exceeded their initial vision of raising 100,000 pairs of shoes and more than half a million dollars during their two-week walk. Additionally, the organizers are hoping the raised media awareness will encourage those interested to join the mission of Samaritan’s Feet. Donate shoes, join the October World Walk, or go online to catch the vision of what a single pair of shoes can do to change a child’s world.