After Luzon, 'Step Juan' takes cancer walk to the Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Last year he walked from Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte to Sorsogon to raise funds for children with cancer. 

This time, artist-environmentalist Tomas Leonor is walking through six major islands of the Visayas to raise awareness for childhood cancer and gather funds for indigent patients of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC).

Leonor started his 1,170-kilometer walk today at the municipal police station in Allen, Samar. He will crisscross the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros, and Panay and end his journey in the island paradise of Boracay 56 days later. 

Last year, Leonor left Pagudpud on Jan. 10 and arrived in Matnog, Sorsogon after 48 days. 

By walking, he was able to generate P1.5 million for the Cancer Warriors Foundation. 

Leonor said he chose the PCMC to be his beneficiary because he used to be a regular patient there when he was still a child. 

“I was a sickly boy, always suffering from asthma,” he recalled. “As a young kid, I always dreamed of exploring the outdoors, of going places. Now I am living that dream and I want to use it as a means of helping sick children.”

Leonor said he registered some three million steps in his pedometer in his 48 days of walking last year. Doing the math, he said every step was able to raise 50 centavos for the children suffering from cancer and needing financial assistance for their treatment. 

PCMC director Dr. Julius Lecciones thanked the 29-year-old Leonor and wished him well in his journey.

“The children of PCMC will forever be grateful to you. May you always be safe and may God protect you on your journey,” he said.

Leonor is again bringing with him his rickshaw, which contains his supplies like food, clothing, and a tent. He is ready to sleep anywhere. However, in his 48 days of walking from Pagudpud to Sorsogon, he only made use of the tent once. The rest of the journey he was invited to sleep in schools, health centers, police stations, and private houses.

“We Filipinos are very hospitable and generous. That’s one thing I’ve seen in my journey,” he said.

Dangers, however, still lurk on every highway where Leonor walked. In Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, for instance, he sprained his ankle after he avoided a speeding bus. He continued walking with the aid of a walking stick.

And there were moments when he had crowds walking with him. “I was welcomed warmly by the people of Tarlac and they walked with me for days,” he said.  

What was the best part of his journey?

“The best part was when Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jesus Verzosa called and said that the PNP is donating P1 million to the project,” he said.