Idaho Falls girl walks to Grantsville, Utah

Estimated learn time: 5-6 minutes

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — With ideas of household, some audiobooks, and her father to maintain her firm, 11-year-old Laneah Knickerbocker began a journey on foot from Arimo on Monday. The primary steps formally kicked off what has grow to be referred to as “Laneah’s Stroll,” a 251-mile trek to Grantsville, Utah, to go to a cousin.

In December 2021, throughout winter break, Knickerbocker mentioned she was chatting along with her cousin on the telephone about wanting to go to her, and the cousin recommended she stroll. Though her cousin was joking, Knickerbocker requested her dad and mom if she may, in reality, stroll from their residence in Idaho Falls to her cousin’s residence in Utah.

“I waited for my dad to get residence as a result of I knew if I requested my mother, she would undoubtedly say no,” Knickerbocker mentioned. “So I requested my dad, and he mentioned sure” — with a caveat: Laneah needed to discover adults to come back along with her.

Her father, Jean-Michel Knickerbocker, mentioned it sounded straightforward in his head. “I imagined she would make a listing and fill within the dates with adults who would stroll along with her.”

It turned obvious, nevertheless, that they would want 10 to fifteen adults he and Laneah Knickerbocker’s mom, Anna Knickerbocker, knew to go along with her, and though they’ve had just a few people say they wish to be a part of the stroll at varied instances; it was nowhere close to the quantity wanted.

Whereas Laneah Knickerbocker requested round, her father began practising along with her in late Could of this 12 months and helped her plan.

“I used to be not pondering it could be me,” he mentioned, however as they practiced collectively, he accepted he was going to be an even bigger a part of her dream than he anticipated.

Their first observe stroll was 16.1 miles from their home to Teton Grill in Menan. Every Saturday since then, they’ve walked and progressively added miles. Typically, they’d decide a vacation spot and stroll to it, and different instances they made a loop from their home to sixty fifth or 81st South and again.

A couple of month in the past, the household realized time was not on their facet. Initially, they deliberate to stroll a median of 25 miles every day, however with the warmth and hills, they’ve averaged about 20 miles on their practices. They deliberate to depart Idaho Falls on Aug. 9, Jean-Michel Knickerbocker wanted to be again at work on Aug. 22, they usually meant to reach in Grantsville on Aug. 16 or 17.

In July, the pair began the primary a number of miles early to alleviate the stress. That day, they walked from their home, simply north of 1st Avenue, to Shelley. The subsequent Saturday, they began in Shelley and walked to Fort Corridor. The subsequent, they walked from Fort Corridor to Inkom, and Saturday, July, 29, they walked from Inkom to Arimo, the place they began from on Monday. From then ahead, they may meet their assist automobile at lunchtime and on the finish of every day’s miles.

The trailer they are going to be sleeping in every night time is on mortgage from Brett Spence with A-Professional Plumbing, and their assist automobile is a piece truck from Jean-Michel Knickerbocker’s enterprise, Orange Electrical. His dad and sister will probably be driving the assist automobile and can often be inside 10 to 12 miles of them, touring alongside the identical route.

The pair have tried to plan for every part. They’ve been in touch with a pair who walked from Georgia to Oregon just a few years in the past, who’ve given them tips about every part from footwear to snacks and even the emotional facet of the stroll.

“After we have been speaking to the one who walked throughout the U.S., she mentioned, ‘It should get onerous, so if you already know you are doing it for somebody or one thing then it is going to be simpler to maintain going,’” Laneah Knickerbocker mentioned.

What began as one thing enjoyable has developed into greater than a bodily problem.

Laneah Knickerbocker and her household have chosen two organizations* vital to them to lift cash for by way of this stroll.

United Cerebral Palsy is predicated in Tennessee and helps present gear and different issues not coated by insurance coverage for people with cerebral palsy, like one other cousin of hers.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society additionally takes an individual-first strategy as an alternative of solely analysis. Laneah Knickerbocker’s aunt and Jean-Michel Knickerbocker’s sister, Danita Knickerbocker died on Feb. 17 of leukemia, simply after Laneah Knickerbocker began planning her stroll. Danita Knickerbocker had been in line for a scholarship from the group to assist her change profession paths after her analysis roughly 4 years in the past. She didn’t survive lengthy sufficient to profit from the society herself, however Jean-Michel Knickerbocker mentioned his sister favored it as a result of it has packages that straight assist these with leukemia and lymphoma.

The pair reached their first vacation spot, Satan’s Reservoir, on Monday night. They crossed into Utah on Wednesday. And although they’ve a number of days forward of them, Anna Knickerbocker believes in her daughter and is supportive.

“Laneah has at all times been very decided. When she was little, she did not need somebody to show her to trip a motorcycle — she was going to do it herself,” Anna Knickerbocker mentioned. “When she was studying, she did not need me to take a seat and skim along with her — she wished to do it herself. I do know that she will do it and that will probably be an excellent factor for her. … She’ll know that she will accomplish onerous issues, and she’s going to hopefully see the goodness of individuals alongside the best way”

For extra info, photos, reside feeds and to see their itinerary every day, go to their Fb group, “Laneah’s Stroll.”

*Disclaimer: KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the data supplied with respect to the account nor does KSL.com guarantee that the monies deposited will probably be utilized for the advantage of the individuals named as beneficiaries. If you’re contemplating a deposit or donation you need to seek the advice of your personal advisers and in any other case proceed at your personal danger.

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