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For those of you who do not already know, The Dr. Oz show recently featured a report on the “happiest” and “unhappiest” cities in America. Dr. Oz reported that Sunnyvale, California is the happiest place in the USA, whereas, our beloved Hazard, Kentucky is the unhappiest. You can type Dr. Oz Hazard, KY into Google to find several web sites discussing this show. To see a report like this from Dr. Oz within the same month I completed my walk from Hazard to Harpo Studios in Chicago is frustrating for me. Oprah is the one who launched Dr. Oz’s fame. Although I am not sure whether Oprah is a producer for the show, there is no doubt that she has invested her time and reputation into a lucrative television career for Dr. Oz. Within the same month that southeastern Kentucky called out for Oprah to shine a positive light on the area, Dr. Oz was sitting up camp in Hazard with intensions of branding the town unfit for happiness.
Before I spill too much emotion, allow me to say that it is possible Harpo Studios has plans of calling me. It has only been a month since I completed the walk, and Oprah’s show is booked well in advance. Even a person as well known as Ellen Degeneres doesn’t get on the show immediately. Ellen launched a campaign earlier this year to be on the cover of “O” magazine. Oprah agreed to feature her on the cover last March, but that edition of “O” did not hit newsstands until this month. With that being said, the purpose of my blog is not to demonize Oprah Winfrey or even Dr. Oz. I simply want to get something off of my chest that I believe also weighs heavily on all the people of southeastern Kentucky.
Our people’s distrust of the media is warranted. We have seen them all… talk show hosts, newspaper, television, and radio reporters. They march in waving flags of redemption, claiming that they want to expose the problems facing this area to the world, with hopes that the world will lend a helping hand. Yet the world remains dormant and the only thing accomplished is the shaming of a culture and a ratings boost for the networks. The truth is, I’ve lived here all of my 31 years, and I couldn’t be happier living anywhere else. I don’t care if I have 1 or 1 million dollars in my bank account. Hazard, KY is home SWEET home. All of this media attention is frustrating to us because it puts a negative slant on a positive area. Dr. Oz’s story is even more so frustrating because, regardless of what his statistics say, we are happy… So, what his report accomplishes is not relaying the message of our unhappiness. Instead, it laughs in our faces and tell us that our happiness stems from ignorance because we have no earthly reason to be happy. I’m sure if we viewed the statistics, city by city, for the suicide rate over the course of this past recession, Hazard, KY would rank extremely low on the list.
But, like I said, my goal is not to demonize Dr. Oz. I am in a situation that I never could have imagined being in. My walk, coupled with the overwhelming community support I received, has placed me in the position to provide a positive national media story for southeastern KY. Isn’t it somewhat ironic that Dr. Oz chose a tiny town deep into Appalachia as the unhappiest place in America, and at the exact same time a man from that tiny town was walking to Oprah Winfrey with hopes that she would do a positive story about the area? The irony of this situation makes me laugh and gives me hope.
I want to say that, with all the stupid things I’ve done in my life, it is humbly amazing to me that I could ever be in a position to represent my community in a positive way before a national audience. I also believe that it is not me who deserves words of praise… it is us, the people of KY Appalachia. As I walked 500 miles through the elements, I found that the people of my community were on my heart more so than my writing. I love this place and all the people in it. My heroes live here, and the folks here drive my footsteps regardless of where I walk. When all is said and done, it will be the conversations I shared along the walk with those whose lives have been touched by cancer that I will hold most dear. It doesn’t matter if Oprah or the president meets with me. Those conversations I shared during my adventure with the ones touched by cancer will hold the most meaning for me. But I can promise this. If Oprah does invite me onto her show, you will hear nothing but praise for the people who make me what I am… the people of southeastern Kentucky. So, if you are still compelled to do so, send Oprah an email through www.oprah.com and tell her how you feel. Thanks! God bless you and rock on!
11-13-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
Hello, dear friends, sorry it has taken me so long to post an update. I’ve been busy writing the beginning of a new book. We’ll talk more about that later. Right now, there is one simple statement I want to make to my family, friends, and community… ‘THANK YOU!’… When the people you love step up to do a great, selfless deed for your benefit, a spirit of gratitude is invoked, and this overwhelming appreciation can only be expressed by two humble words… ‘THANK YOU!’
Over two and a half weeks after my meeting with the production folks at Harpo Studios, emails continue to pour into www.oprah.com from my community. To be honest, I thought everyone would have forgotten about my walk two or three days after it was over. Yet, on a daily basis, people tell me that they continue to flood www.oprah.com with emails, asking her to feature my story on the show… ‘THANK YOU!’… I encourage everyone to send emails for as long as the urge remains. In actuality, this is a community effort. That fact became evident to me the day I departed from Hazard, KY. The support I received from my community was nothing short of inspiring. In many ways, the entire area went on the walk with me. So, if Oprah says no, she will be saying no to all of us. Of course, I have great respect for Oprah. When planning my walk, I didn’t just list a bunch of celebrities and use ‘one potato, two potato’ as a process of elimination. There are specific reasons why I chose Oprah Winfrey. Although it is true that Oprah doesn’t need me for notoriety, I still think it would be a mistake for her not to include me in one of the shows. Oprah has been a hero and a television pioneer throughout her career. Now, she once again has the opportunity to shine in this fashion. I have heard so many people talk about how nice it would be to have a positive story from southeastern, KY on TV for once. It is true that the media exercises negative bias toward our people. There are numerous reports of the drug problem in our mountains. Are there no drugs in New England? The poverty of southeastern, KY has been featured by every major news network. Is there no poverty in the Great Plains? You see, the problem isn’t the negative reports. The lack of positive reports is what feeds the stereotype. Once again, Oprah has the chance to be a heroic pioneer. Not only will my appearance on her show allow Oprah to shed a positive light on an area that has been unjustly portrayed for decades, but it will also give her viewers across the country some quality entertainment. Let’s face it, a man walking 500 miles to hand deliver a book to Oprah and raise money to fight cancer is a better story line than anything else on daytime TV. The funny thing is, Oprah didn’t have to do any work to get into this position. The opportunity simply showed up on her doorstep. So, my only question is… Oprah, what are you waiting for?
As far as my opinion goes, I could see the situation going either way. They met with me and took my contact info for a reason, yet they still haven’t called. But one thing is for certain. I will never give up. With or without Oprah, I will carry on with my conquest to be a writer. However, if Oprah does invite me onto the show, I am going to look into the possibility of chartering some busses so that we can pack her audience with people from southeast, KY. We’ll give her the most electrifying show of her illustrious career. Thanks again to everyone who has sent emails. Rock on and God bless you.
11-01-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
I am back home. Let me declare right now that I LOVE southeastern, KY. My family, friends, and neighbors are the greatest people on the planet. I will begin writing a book about my walk soon. Believe me, there are many interesting stories to tell.
I want to try and explain the situation with Harpo Studios as best I can. To be honest, I really don’t know what is going through their minds. First of all, it is company policy to not meet with anyone who comes into the studio from off the street. This policy makes sense. However, they broke protocol with me. I came in off the street and they did meet with me. They didn’t just send someone out into the lobby to try and pacify me. Instead, they actually escorted me out of the studio and down the street to the Harpo office complex. Oprah’s office was there, but she was not in it. I did not meet with Oprah that day, but I did meet with her producer’s assistant. He accepted my book with a promise that it would be given to the producers. He would only accept ‘Neace’s Pieces’ because it is published. The producers do not read manuscripts, so I was unable to give them ‘Bad Boy’. I was also informed that Harpo does not make someone this promise falsely. If they say they will give a book to the producers, then they follow through with it. The assistant said that the show does not take ideas via walk-ins, telephone calls, or snail mail. He strongly suggested that emails be sent through oprah.com asking the producers to feature my story on the show. Overall, the people there were very nice. All of them knew my story ahead of time, and some even said they were inspired by it. Yet, I cannot answer the question as to whether or not I will be on the show. They have my contact info. All we can do now is continue to flood them with emails.
If they were not at all interested in my story, I never would have made it that far through the door. Oprah’s producers are not shy when it comes to turning people away. But at the same time, I wonder, with so many emails already having been sent, why do they insist on receiving more. I do know this- NBC-7 in Chicago did a nice story about my arrival. This report can be found online. In the report, Harpo Studios is quoted as saying that they knew nothing of my walk and that they will not meet with anyone who isn’t on the show’s schedule. Yet, when I arrived, everyone there was already aware of my walk, and they did meet with me, even though I am not on the show’s schedule.
I want to thank all of you for your help and encouragement. We can flood Oprah with emails again from www.oprah.com. If she doesn’t want me on the show, then so be it. If she does want me on the show, I’ll go and rock the joint. I love you guys. Through this experience, I think we’ve shown the world what southeast KY is really made of.
10-15-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN… BUM,BUM,BUM,BUM…BUM,BUM,BUM,BUM BUM…
Sorry, I just love using that old rock song by Europe, ‘The Final Countdown’, whenever I can. Here we are, my friends, the final week of training before I head out on my walk to Oprah. First of all, I must give thanks to some people who have stepped up to help their old boy, Sam Neace, over the past week. Hopefully, Kanye West won’t interrupt me during my acknowledgements. WHAT A DOUCHE BAG!!! Anyway, my mother-in-law, Janice Whitaker, along with the staff of my alma mater A.B. Combs Elementary came up with a great idea. They are selling footprints to raise money for Relay for Life on behalf of my walk. Basically, you pledge money and get your name on a footprint, which is hung on the wall. Great idea, ladies. You rock!!!
Also, I must thank Chris Ritchie of the Hazard Herald newspaper for writing a journalistic masterpiece pertaining to my walk, which was the TOP STORY in last week’s Hazard Herald paper. I beat out Hank Jr. along with Halfway to Hazard performing at a coal rally and the swine flu for top billing. WOW!!!
The student body of Perry County Central, A.B. Combs, and Big Creek are sending Oprah emails, asking her to read my work. If you would like to join in on the email blitz, go to oprah.com and click on “contact us”.
I feel awesome going into my final week of training. People have asked me if I’m excited, and my common response has been, ‘no, I’m dreading it’. I regret giving this response now. The truth is, I am dreading it, but I am also excited. This is all very exciting, but it will be much hard work as well.
My main man, Brandon Munsen, sent a very encouraging email, in which he said his only concern is that I don’t get too bored along the way. He asked if I would be toting an MP3 player, which I will. A wide variety of music is on my MP3 player, but during my morning training sessions, I have found that Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins, oddly enough, seem to go best with the sunrise. Of course, my old friend, “Stairway to Heaven” is on there for the rough spots when I need comforting. If you have some songs that you think I need on my MP3 player during the walk, e-mail them to snakesaddler@yahoo.com
Don’t forget to add the Twitter page, twitter.com/neacespieces. Also, Roy Combs has set up a Face Book page…Sam "The Killer" Neace Walks to Oprah! These will be the best ways to keep up with my progress during the walk.
My journey begins September 22nd, 9 AM at Perry County Central High School. Anyone, who wants to, can join me in the park to kick things off that morning. I’ll post again soon. God bless you and rock on!!!
9-15-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
Yesterday, I did my first trial run for the walk to Oprah. I left my house at 1 PM on a 25 mile walk down highway 15 and highway 80 to WKCB. The final leg of my walk was broadcasted during ‘Killer Radio’. There were 2 things I wanted to accomplish with this trial run. First, I wanted to measure the level of soreness and fatigue I would experience from an actual 25 mile walk on the highway. I also wanted to get an idea of how sore I would be the following morning. Secondly, I wanted to prove to the skeptics that I am serious about this and capable of actually pulling it off. 25 miles will be the distance I walk each day on my journey to Oprah. I am so happy that I did the trial run yesterday because now I have the confidence boost I needed going into the final 2 weeks of training. The walk was great. There are no blisters. I experienced little soreness. The fatigue was strong, but after a night’s sleep, I feel just as good as I do any other day. AWESOME! Although, I am remaining humble, this trial walk has given me a BIG TIME boost of confidence. I’m going to make it, people! I really am.
I saw a lot of road kill along the way. It was like walking through a Stephen King novel. There were possums with their faces forever frozen in fear, groundhogs and raccoons as flat as pancakes, and a slain army of snakes. The grasshoppers, however, were alive and well. I swear to God, I thought I was Pharos walking through the grass with those freaky little boogers hopping around my ankles by the millions, whistling the Mad Hatter’s song.
Once the radio show started, and folks were aware of what I was doing, I got a lot of encouragement. Gary Slone brought me a much-needed bottle of water. Many folks blew their horns as they drove by and hollered, ‘The Killer Neace rocks!’ Cody Cornett and Nathan Campbell actually pulled over and walked the last 2 miles to the radio station with me. This means a lot. Thanks to all of you.
Tuesday will mark 2 weeks until the day of departure. I will be leaving at 9 AM, September 22nd from Perry County Central High School. I want to say thanks once again for the nice sendoff the Commodores have planned. Anyone who wishes to meet me in the park to help get the walk kicked off is free to do so. There will be an article in the upcoming edition of the Hazard Herald about my walk. WYMT is also going to get things started this week. For folks who live out of the area, or have satellite, and don’t get WYMT, you can watch their daily newscasts on WYMT’s website. I’ll let you know when to tune in.
If you would like to donate to Relay for Life in support of the cause, all the info is posted on myspace.com/neacespieces. My training will continue. That’s all for now. Rock on and God bless you.
9-6-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
Tuesday will mark 3 weeks until the day of departure, which in my mind is nearly perfect. The training is going well, but I will need another 3 weeks of trial walks to feel totally comfortable with my conditioning. I am pleasantly surprised by how little soreness, blisters, and fatigue I am feeling. My legs have become tree trunks. I bet I could kick through a steel vault right now. It’s funny, I’ve been doing no upper body conditioning, so I have this skinny torso sitting on top of Terminator legs. I did have one bout with soreness this past week. Where my left foot meets my left leg there was piercing pain with every step I took. On the first day of pain, I decided to rest it. On the second day, my strategy was to walk it off, and I am glad this strategy worked. After about an hour, the pain went away and was replaced by numbness. In fact, I could not feel my entire left leg. I just pretended like I was high and that thought actually made the numbness kind of fun. After that day, the pain and numbness subsided and have not returned since. Speaking of getting high, I’ve always heard health nuts talk about the “runner’s high”. I’ve discovered that walkers have a high as well. About 3 and a half hours into my walk, I begin feeling giddy. Yesterday morning I passed an oak tree growing beside the road and actually thought to myself, ‘man, I am almost as tall as that tree’. Although I am not a short man, that oak tree probably stands about 80 feet into the air.
There are a lot of guys working for the surface mines, who call me regularly at the radio station to request songs. One of the guys informed me that the men on his job have a bet going. Some of the guys are betting that I will make it all the way to Chicago against other guys who are betting that I won’t make it. Fifty bucks for each person is the bet. The foreman is holding the money. That’s pretty impressive. To the guys who are betting that I will make it, allow me to say thanks. I am not upset with the guys who are betting against me. Actually, I think it’s kind of cool. I’ve noticed that the ones who know me personally are betting I will make it, whereas the ones who don’t are betting against me. The reason for this is that people who don’t know me personally fail to understand how crazy and driven toward my writing I actually am. Let me assure all the guys who bet that I will make it all the way to Chicago, you’ll be fifty bucks richer come the middle of October.
The most exciting news to report this week involves my sendoff. It is now set in stone that my sendoff will occur in the Perry County Park. I will begin at Perry County Central High School. The students and faculty have some nice things planned for that morning. This is a great honor for me. My appreciation goes out to the Commodores. I graduated from PCC the first year it was open, and I don’t like to brag… BUT… I won PCC’s first 3 state championships in ANYTHING, PERIOD! On December 12th, 1995 I was in the drama team’s production of ‘Smoke on The Mountain’, which won the state tournament that year. Then, on my 18th birthday, March 23rd, 1996, I won state championships in storytelling and solo acting. The story I won with (Hypocrisy at Gunpoint) is the second short story in my book ‘Neace’s Pieces’. WYMT will be filming the day of my sendoff. One thing I want to happen is for the students to gather behind me and WYMT film them telling Oprah, in unison, to read my books.
Finally, I wish to encourage people again to donate to Relay for Life in support of my walk. I want this walk to raise thousands, if not more, for the fight against cancer. The info on how you can donate in support of my walk is posted on the Neace’s Pieces My Space profile. You will notice there are 2 different addresses, one for people inside Knott County and one for people outside Knott County. The reason for this is because I want all Knott County donations to be credited to The Appalachian Artisan Center’s relay team. The Artisan center has been a great help in my writing endeavors. That’s all for now. I’ll keep you posted. Rock on and God bless you.
8-30-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
It is now less than a month until my Nike’s hit the road. September 22nd is the day of departure. I am currently walking 12.5 miles every morning, which is half of what I will walk each day of my journey to Oprah. I feel great. There is no soreness, fatigue, or blisters. The worst thing I have to deal with is boredom, which I imagine will be overwhelming during my trip.
Lots of people have been commenting on my need for good shoes. I bet you there are valley girls in southern California who have had fewer conversations about shoes than I have this week. So, I decided to do what any reasonable man should when he needs quality footwear. I sent the women in my life shopping, and the girls scored a touchdown for their old boy. Daddy needs a brand new pair of shoes! Rebekah bought me a sparkly fresh pair of T-Light Nike’s. My aunt, Mariea, came through with a pair of Nike Air Max. Since both pairs are Nikes, I will be contacting them for a possible endorsement… CHA CHING! Move over, Michael Jordan! I swear when I wear those brogans, it feels like I’m levitating down the road. I do not know the exact weight of these shoes but it feels like 0.00001 grams. They floated right out of the box. Thanks, ladies. Your shopping has helped ensure my success.
There are 3 incentives driving me out of bed at 5 every morning and inspiring the confidence I need to fulfill this journey. The first is the possibility of getting my writings into Oprah’s hands. Not only does Oprah enjoy making people’s dreams come true, but she is also passionate about literature. If she reads my stuff, it could mean a whole new life for me. But simply mailing my writing to her isn’t going to work. Oprah’s mail arrives by the truckload everyday. I would have as good a chance of winning the Powerball as I would of Oprah actually touching a package I mailed to her. Driving it there doesn’t make any kind of statement. I want Oprah and the world to understand how passionate I am, and I can think of no better way to do so than by walking my writing 500 miles to her studio’s front door. The key is going to be drawing enough media attention along the way to make Oprah aware of what I am doing before I arrive. I am glad to say that things are looking good in that department so far. Along with WYMT, Lexington and Louisville TV stations have already agreed to cover me.
The second incentive is Relay for Life’s involvement with my journey. Walking for this cause means much more to me than I can express. I want folks to understand that the reason I am inspired by Relay for Life’s partnership isn’t because of my diagnosis. I have been through chemo, my cancer is in remission, and hopefully the battle is over for me. With each dollar that my walk raises for this cause, here is the thought on my mind. I remember the weeks I spent on the cancer ward at St. Joseph’s hospital. Every week there was someone on that floor who didn’t make it. Their families would be huddled in the hall outside my door, grief stricken. I wished their tears could have been joyful with news that their loved one was going to pull through. When you survive cancer, you think everyday about the people who don’t survive, and you can’t help but feel obligated to do something. I want to raise thousands for the fight against cancer. If you want to help me, here is what you can do. Make a check or money order payable to Relay for Life and send it, along with a note saying that you are donating in support of Sam Neace’s walk to Chicago, to this address.
Relay for Life
402 Coomer Street
Somerset, KY 42503
I am also working through The Appalachian Artisan Center’s relay team, so if you live in Knott County, you can send your donation through them. It doesn’t matter how big or small the donation. Every dollar helps.
The third incentive is you. My friends and community have really gotten behind me and shown incredible support. I thank you so much. It is true that just a few simple, kind words can encourage a person to move mountains. I love you all, and I don’t want to let you down. My route is now mapped all the way out. I will spend 8 days in KY, 11 days in IN, and 2 days in IL. I’ll keep you posted on everything. Don’t forget to add the Twitter page, twitter.com/neacespieces. That’s all for now. Rock on and God bless you.
8-23-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
What a week it has been in terms of excitement generated for my walk to Oprah! First of all, I emailed the University of Kentucky athletics director, Mitch Barnhart, giving him the details of my walk and asking if he thought Coach John Calipari would be willing to walk a short distance with me when I come through Lexington. Much to my surprise, Barnhart returned my email almost instantly, wishing me luck and informing me that he had forwarded my message to Coach Cal. Coach Cal had a youth basketball camp scheduled this past Sunday in Hazard. I went to the camp and had the great honor of meeting with Coach Calipari. Below is a picture from our meeting. Notice the book Coach Cal is holding in his hand.
The coach said he would be willing to walk with me when I make it to Lexington. WOW!!! You know what’s funny is Coach Cal probably signed 200 autographs that day, but he only received one… from me. I signed his book, “Coach Calipari, here’s something for you to read during the U of L game when the score is UK-100 and UL-25… Sam Neace” So, help me God, if I see him reading my book on the bench I’ll probably laugh until I wet my britches.
Also, Coach Al Holland pledged money to Relay for Life in the name of my walk and is setting up the possibility of me starting my journey at Hazard High School with the entire student body walking with me. I can’t believe a bunch of Bulldogs would do that for a Commodore. Maybe I should walk through Israel and Palestine. Just for the record, if I did walk all the way through Israel and Palestine, it would equal fewer miles than my walk from Hazard to Chicago.
All of this news is humbly exciting, but it also places more pressure on me. With all the attention my walk is getting, I cannot fail. I MUST MAKE IT ALL THE WAY!!! So, my morning walks have continued. The training is going great. All soreness and blisters are gone. But I want everyone to know that my ego is in no way inflated. With every step I take, the thought remains at the crest of my mind that this journey is going to be one of the most difficult experiences of my life. There are going to be times when I do not want to go any further. But I will fight through all of that and make it to Oprah, even if I have to crawl. This experience reminds me a lot of my battle with cancer. My first chemo treatment went great. I felt fine when it was over, and I thought to myself, ‘this isn’t going to be so bad at all.’ By the time my last chemo treatment rolled around, I was praying for it to be over. Every day was miserable. My walk to Oprah will be the same way. I imagine that the first day will be a piece of cake, but halfway through the walk, I will be praying for it to be over. However, I suffered through what had to be done with cancer treatment, and in the end I beat it. My walk will be the same way.
Folks who know me, know that everything I do involves at least a hint of symbolism. I mean, it isn’t just coincidence that I chose September 22nd, the first day of autumn (the season of harvest) to start my walk, with my arrival in Chicago happening on Columbus Day (the day of discovering a new world). My walk itself is also symbolic. The walk is a man showing the world how much his art means to him and how worthy it is of exposure by suffering and conquering a seemingly impossibly task. As always, my ultimate goal is to get my writing into Oprah’s hands. But it also means a great deal to me that my walk can raise money for the fight against cancer. If anyone would like to sponsor me (so much cash per mile I walk) with the proceeds going to Relay for Life, please contact me. I have all the information you will need. That is all for now. Much has been done, but there is still much to do. I love all of you. And, my dear friends, I will keep you posted. Rock on and God bless you!!!
8-17-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
It has been an interesting week. My 5 AM walks have continued. There is not a lot to report there. It’s pretty boring, really. The truth is, I want the walks to be boring. Mental preparedness is just as important as physical preparedness when undertaking an adventure such as this. There is one freaky piece of news to report. A few nights ago I dreamed that I walked all the way to Harpo Studios, and when I arrived, Oprah was waiting for me. She accepted my writing and immediately fell in love with it… I woke up the next day, and when Oprah’s show came on, I turned over to watch it, and so help me God, she was wearing the exact same outfit she had been wearing in my dream. AHHHH!!! That’s freaky, but in a good way.
I have set the date for departure. September 22nd (the first day of Autumn) is when I will take my first step toward Chicago. There are only two concerns on my mind, and I will use this blog to express them. First of all, I need sponsorship. If all goes as planned, I will be on the road for 21 days. I have 4 places to stay (with friends) along the way. This means that I need at least 17 nights in a motel. I’m a poor boy. There’s no way that I can afford this. I am going on this walk with or without places to stay. So, it is very important to me that I have shelter along the way without completely bankrupting my family in the process. Anyone who is interested in getting a room for me can send me a message and I will provide the necessary details. Also, I want to raise as much money as possible for Relay for Life. Relay is taking donations… so much money for each mile I walk… with all the proceeds going to the fight against cancer. I encourage everyone to participate, even if it is for only one penny per mile. If you want to make a donation, I can give you the info.
As always, the personal goal for me is to draw enough attention during my journey to make Oprah aware that I am coming, with the hope that she will read my writing and possibly open up a door of opportunity for my work in the publishing business. September 22nd will be the day of departure. Relay for Life teams are going to give me a send off. As soon as I get all the details, I will pass them on to you. That’s all for now.
8-3-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
I am continuing training for my walk to Oprah. Basically, the only way one can train for something this crazy is to walk and pray as much as possible every day. The purpose is to build endurance and check for problems that might develop during the walk, such as blisters. I have a nice looking blister blossoming on my right foot now. Every morning I look like Festus from ‘Gun Smoke’ limping up and down Flat Gap Road. I figure the neighbors just think I’m drunk again at 6 AM. I am purposely wearing the worst pair of shoes I own during the training. If I thought I wouldn’t get arrested, I would train in a pair of Rebekah’s high heels. Trust me, when I head out to Chicago, my feet will be armed with a high tech pair of custom sneakers that would make even LeBron James jealous. I have also been toting my MP3 player during morning walks. This makes the time pass quicker, but the problem is that all of Rebekah’s songs are on there. So, I’m limping up and down Flat Gap to the beat of ‘We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off’ by Jermaine Stewart and ‘How Am I Supposed to Live Without You’ by Michael Bolton. When folks see me crying while I’m on my morning walk, I tell them it’s because of the pain from the blister, but I’m really emotional because of that darn sentimental Michael Bolton. For God’s sake, how is he supposed to live without that woman now that he’s been loving her so long? Fear not for me, though. When the time comes to depart, I will be ready.
As always, the ultimate goal of this walk is to convince Oprah Winfrey to read my writing. However, it has also given me a burst of encouragement to know that my walk can possibly raise a lot of money for ‘Relay for Life’ and the fight against cancer. We need people to sponsor me. Come on, everybody! If you don’t have a lot of cash, sponsor me at a penny per mile. If I make it all the way to Chicago, that will be five dollars going to ‘Relay for Life’. Of course, you can pledge more than that if your heart and wallet allow. The most important thing right now is getting the word out. Thanks to all of you who have spread the word about this. I am going to set my date of departure soon. So, keep a check on blog updates. That’s all for now. Thanks and God bless!
7-23-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
A lot has happened this week concerning the walk. I’ve been waking up before sunrise and walking each morning. Every dog in the Lower 2nd Creek area has developed an intimate relationship with my leg. I’ll be marching in place standing at the toilet, and walking in my sleep if possible. Anything I can do to exercise the cardio will be helpful… so if Rebekah reads this, a little extra romance time to increase the cardio could save my life. The walks are going well, but they are nowhere near 500 miles long. I need all the training I can get. The most important thing for me throughout this experience is that I remain humble and cautious. I do not underestimate the difficulty of this walk. Neither do I overestimate my abilities. But I am confident that I will be ready when the time comes for departure.
I received excellent news from the Relay for Life officials, which I will share in a moment. Right now, I am going to map out my route through Kentucky. On the first day I will walk highway 15 from Hazard to Jackson. The 2nd day I will get on highway 30 in Jackson for approximately 2 miles until I come to highway 52. My 2nd day of walking will end in Beattyville. On the third day I will remain on highway 52 to Irvine. My time on highway 52 will conclude on the fourth day when I arrive in Richmond. From Richmond, I will follow Richmond Road into Lexington, where I will join highway 60 into Louisville. All and all, it will take me 8 days to reach the Indiana border. I have not yet mapped out my route through Indiana.
Relay for Life has given me a big boost. The officials are excited about my walk and they think a lot of money will be raised for the cause. They are taking sponsors at so much money per mile. They are going to contact every media outlet along the way and have my walk printed and broadcasted. Relay teams are also going to give me a send off when I depart and be waiting at the gates of Harpo Studios to welcome me when I arrive. This will be a big boost in helping me achieve my ultimate goal in getting Oprah’s attention so that she will read my writing. For info on how you can sponsor my walk, just send me a message. That’s all for now. I will keep all of you posted.
7-17-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
On last night’s Killer Radio, I announced the plans of my walk to Oprah to the radio world. It was a good show. Brian Milam of WYMT-TV did a telephone interview with me, in which he announced full support and coverage by WYMT for my walk. He also expressed his opinion that this story has the potential to gain nationwide attention, and Brian (who oddly enough was the first person to read the manuscript for my novel ‘Bad Boy’) shared a praising review of my writing. Thank you, Brian. I hope you’re not expecting a check in the mail. Brian is going to follow my walk on the WYMT newscast as well as Sports Overtime. I honestly never imagined that I would be featured on Sports Overtime. My high school coaches probably never imagined that either.
I also received tips to help me train for the walk from PT Pros and my main man Joey Williams. Joey spent some time in the Army (infantry unit) so I value and appreciate his advice on training for the walk. Joey, if this walk doesn’t make me clutch, I don’t know what can.
I still do not know what route will be the best for me to walk to Chicago. Details of where I am going to stay along the way also remain in question. But there is still time to iron out these issues. I am filled with excitement and dread. I suppose these feelings accompany everyone standing at the threshold of a new beginning. Relay for Life will be accepting sponsors for my walk… so much cash per mile… until the day of my departure. If you would like to sponsor me, even if it is just a penny per mile, send an email and I will give you the necessary details. All proceeds will go to Relay for Life. There is still much to do, but every journey begins with the first step. That is all for now. I will keep you updated. Thanks and God bless you!
7-12-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more just to be the man who collapses of exhaustion at Oprah’s feet. But it is going to be worth it, my friends. Doubt not in your old boy, Killer Neace. The beginning preparations for my walk to Oprah are underway. I am still researching the best route to walk, one that doesn’t touch an interstate or parkway, yet doesn’t place me in the middle of a hundred miles of Indiana cornfields, where Malachi and Isaac jump out of the corn and sacrifice me in the name of ‘He Who Walks Behind the Rows.’ I am beginning my workout for the walk. The workout is needed. Don’t be mistaken, just because I am a good-looking man, that doesn’t mean that I am in great shape… lol. My wife has specified that I cannot do any workouts that change the look of my fine behind, so I am doing fanny friendly endurance workouts.
I have a Twitter and My Space page for ‘Neace’s Pieces’. My Twitter user name is twitter.com/neacespieces. The My Space page is myspace.com/neacespieces. Add them, and keep up with updates all the way through the experience. Plus, Roy Combs is going to set up a Face Book page and maintain the Twitter page, so that you don’t miss a single cry baby fit and puking session as I trek across half a stinkin’ continent in the name of my art.
There is other good news to report. Since I am a cancer survivor, and Relay for Life is all about walking, I am allowing people to sponsor my walk… so much cash per mile… and all the proceeds will go to Relay for Life. Come on, people, let’s raise some money for the fight against cancer. Contact me for more info. That’s all for now. Rock on and God bless you!
7-8-09
Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
Here are some issues I need to resolve before the journey. First of all, I hope to make the walk in 21 days. In order to do this I would need to walk approximately 25 miles a day. Whether or not I can do this, I do not know, but I am certainly going to try. It’s funny when you consider that at the end of my first day I will be in Jackson. If I arrive at Harpo Studios on the 21st day, that means I will need 20 places to stay along the way. I could maybe afford to spend 3 nights in a motel, but I doubt that I will be able to afford more than that. So, where am I going to sleep? Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. If I could set up some sort of promotional trade with motels that would be great, but a lot of times those deals are easier said than done. As far as rest areas go, since pedestrian travel is prohibited on most parkways and all interstates, I doubt that I will pass any rest areas, which brings me to my next issue. What route should I take? Naturally, I want it to be the shortest distance. Also, it is important to know how much distance is between towns on the route. In the state of Indiana, it is possible to travel along fifty miles of cornfields before coming upon a town. I would rather avoid that if possible. When driving to Chicago, the interstate is the best route. For me, it might be better to dodge Indiana all together and walk west to the KY and IL border, then shoot straight up the state of Illinois. I don’t know, I’m just saying that whatever the absolute shortest distance is, that is the route I want to take.
7-3-09
Sam 'The Killer' Neace
Okay, here’s the deal. I am going to walk from Hazard, KY to Chicago, IL to deliver my short story book ‘Neace’s Pieces’ and the finished manuscript for my novel ‘Bad Boy’ to Harpo Studios, with the hopes that Oprah Winfrey will read my work. I am confident that, if she reads them, she will like them. I want this journey to accomplish two things. Naturally, a writer walking nearly 500 miles to deliver his works to Oprah will draw a lot of media attention, and it is quite possible that, if the community and enough media outlets get involved, Oprah will know I am coming before I arrive. But I also want to prove something to the world. I want to prove how much my writing means to me. This is going to be the most difficult voluntary undertaking of my life. I cannot cheat or else the media will expose me and the world will rebuke my efforts. By the time I arrive in Chicago, my body will be suffering, but perhaps my soul will be stronger.
This is what I need from my friends. First of all, I need emotional support. You guys were great throughout my fight against cancer. I’d like some more of that encouragement. Secondly, I need advice. As far as the media goes, I’ve already got the ball rolling with WYMT and the radio stations. If my friends can think of various items I will need on the trip, let me know. But keep in mind that I will be walking, so the less I pack the better off I will be. I am not going to carry any cash. Instead, I will have a debit card with no more than $100 on it at a time. Should I run out of money, my wife will put more money on the card from her bank account. I am going to walk during the day and rest at night. Places to stay along the trip will be very important. I am going to need rest and an occasional shower. I figure the trip will take approximately 3 weeks. This is a gamble, but success is never gained through comfort. I am willing to gamble for my dreams.
7-1-09
-Sam ‘The Killer’ Neace
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