BANGOR – Years after retiring from the Golden Arches, 65-year-old Dwight Barnes has made it his mission to finish a 1,000-mile trip to raise $250,000.
It’s about a thousand miles that takes about eight weeks,” said Barnes at a stop in Bangor Wednesday.
Barnes had been training since December 2019 and started his journey Aug. 17 in Boston.
“I’ve fund raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities down in the Boston market for about 30 years. So I was looking for something good to do with the walking and those two things came together,” said Barnes.
His plan is to hit all seven Ronald McDonald Houses in New England, as well as some of the McDonald’s restaurants, Mobile Care Units and even the organization’s hospital family rooms
“Whenever you talk about critically ill children and their families and what they go through, Ronald McDonald House Charities are there for them,” said Barnes.
As of Sept. 2, Barnes has traveled close to 300 miles and his spirit keeps him striding.
“Just happy to be making this trip and getting a chance to shine in the spotlight on this great organization,” he said.
The next stop on the trek will be heading southwest to Burlington, Vermont. From there he heads to Springfield, Massachusetts, then New Haven, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island and then he’ll be finishing in Bean Town.