Walk of Hope stops in Meridian

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
July 16, 2002
Norman Ball is just 1,335 miles from his destination.
A native of Toronto, Canada, who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., Ball, 59, began his North American "Walk of Hope" nearly two years ago in Phoenix to raise money for children in need.
He said there are thousands of unwanted children living in appalling conditions on streets and in state-run orphanages in many countries.
Ball completed the 6,915 mile-mark when he arrived in Meridian on Saturday. The total journey will add up to 8,250 miles.
On Monday, in front of Meridian City Hall, Ball and his wife Dianne were presented with a proclamation signed by Mayor John Robert Smith designating Saturday as "Walk of Hope Day."
Ball said he intends to enlist volunteers to carry on the walk for years to come, including stops in Meridian the same time each year.
Ball said he began his campaign after hearing the term "throw-away children" for the first time from Rumanian refugees.
The organization he formed, "Walk of Hope Inc.," will focus on aiding children in Rumania, Brazil, El Salvador, Haiti, India and Guatemala. He said money raised also will go to children in need in the United States and Canada.
Currently he is trying to enlist charities through his own Web site to help in the effort. His site is at http://www.walkofhope.org.
Ball said he consistently walks about 20 miles a day. His wife, Dianne, follows in a gray, 1999 GM Safari van covered with "Walk of Hope" signs. The van also has flags of states they have visited and countries where they plan to help children in need.
He said local restaurants have provided free meals and grocery stores have given him fruit and vegetables.
He also said hundreds of motorists have stopped to donate money to his organization during his walk.
Major cities he has walked through include San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.