How far would you go to help someone in need? In Don Stevenson’s case, the answer is nearly twice the circumference of Earth.

Stevenson is a 76-year-old ultra-walker with more than 15 years and 40,000 miles of experience under his belt. It’s his goal to walk hundreds, even thousands, of miles a stretch. Now Stevenson is dedicating a summer-long 1,400-mile walk to Nicholas Premo of Bonney Lake, a 12-year-old boy born blind.

Starting in Rugby, North Dakota on June 29, Stevenson plans to walk until he arrives at a Auburn City Hall at the scheduled date of Sept. 7. Every step of the way, he will raise money for sight restoration research through a Bonney Lake Lions Club fundraiser.

“I’ll be walking 20 miles per day, blindfolded part of the time to empathize with the plight of the blind,” Stevenson recently told a gathering of the Sumner Lions Club.”I can see one day when [Nicholas] will see again.”

Stevenson will kick off the walk at Auburn City Hall at 8 a.m. June 7, though he will be driven to his starting point in Rugby.

The Bonney Lake Lions are accepting donations by check or directly into the “Lion Heart Walk for the Blind” Wells Fargo account. Checks can be mailed to 18429 89th St. E. in Bonney Lake, Wash. 98391.

Stevenson’s web page is www.thepacingparson.com.