North Carolina
Father and sons walk to Western North Carolina to raise $40,000 for food insecurity
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – One Wilmington family took the trek to walk over 1,100 miles to support relief efforts in Asheville.
Lucien Ellison and his two sons, Jack and Archie, began their walk in the Outer Banks at Jockey’s Ridge on May 10, walking to the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains, and finishing the journey in Asheville in early July.
They named their journey “Miles for Manna”, with money raised benefitting the Manna Food Bank.
“So we decided to choose Manna Food Bank because they helped 16 different counties, which a lot of them we would be walking through. So we could experience firsthand the devastation,” said Archie Ellison.
The journey took 64 consecutive days to ultimately raise over $40,000 for the cause; with hopes of reaching their goal of $50,000.
Money raised would benefit relief efforts, such as going toward food-insecure places.
The Ellison family saw everything from damaged buildings to downed trees on their journey.
“There were a lot of times where we were climbing over, trying to scurry under trees, stuff like that. The destruction was everywhere at once we got out there, to be honest,” said Jack Ellison.
Though the trek was tough at times, they found solace in knowing every step they took was one closer to making a difference.
“There were definitely times where it was mentally tough, you know, when you had 25 miles to go, had already done 15, and still have 10 to go that can be tough,” said Lucien Ellison.
Walking so far, for so long, is both a mental and physical undertaking.
The 19 and 20-year-old boys are learning many life lessons, from mental fortitude to perseverance.
“First day, we were talking and we were like, ‘oh 10 miles in, we still have 1,165 left this is hard to wrap your head around’. My dad used to say, ‘How do you eat an elephant? Take one bite at a time.’ And that really stuck with me the whole trip just taking one step at a time and trying not to think too far forward,” said Archie Ellison.
Though the trek is over for now, the boys don’t feel satisfied yet.
They want to go back to the western part of the state to continue relief efforts, especially walking through the areas still closed from Hurricane Helene damage.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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