Walking Fire Island To Help Grant Wishes
By Rebecca Sesny
There will be nothing more satisfying to Queens attorney Theodore Davis than being "sunburned, sandblasted, and exhausted" as he makes his 10th annual and final 33-mile walk across Fire Island to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York on Saturday, Sept. 11.
At 43, Davis has logged 297 miles of beach, walking through high and low tides for Make-a-Wish, "for the kids." He starts his journey at the eastern-most tip of Fire Island National Seashore at the Moriches Inlet, and travels through Otis Pike Wilderness walking west to end at Democrat Point.
Since his inaugural walk in August 2001, Davis has raised more than $45,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York, raising $4,200 last year during his first ever "night walk" from sundown to sunrise. He is looking to beat his goal of total funds raised for the foundation of more than $60,000 on his last time out.
Davis came to do the charity walk by way of tragedy, having been distressed by the untimely passing of a friend's nephew. Looking for a way to do charitable work, he found a desire to help children in need.
"About 10 years ago, I wanted to start doing something charitable," Davis said, "and I thought I would do charity for children. The walk has continued thanks to the generosity of friends and strangers."
Once he decided to focus on children, he contacted Make-a-Wish with his idea for a walk across his childhood stomping grounds.
"I grew up on Fire Island and I do marathons, so I decided to do the walk," said Davis, who has since stopped running marathons having had ankle surgery. "I had to make a couple of phone calls [to Make-a-Wish] and they gave me the okay, and have given me a press release every year since."
This year, as in most years past, the walk begins at sunrise with a friend ferrying Davis out to the eastern end of Fire Island, getting as close as 50 feet to the beach. "It's six miles from the nearest parking lot, so I wade ashore with my backpack."
Davis takes off his shoes and, hoping the water isn't too deep, jumps in and makes his way toward the shoreline. "The first year that I walked it I wasn't even sure that I could have physically done it," he said. "It still boggles the mind that I did my first one in 2001 completely barefoot."
Every penny Davis raises goes to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Davis said he hopes he inspires somebody else to take the reins and continue the annual event. "I sincerely hope that someone younger can pick up the torch. That would be a nice legacy," Davis said. "I would love to stay involved with marketing aspect. I have been talking to some fellas in their early 20's who are interested. We need fresh legs."
To send pledges, you can contact Davis via email at tdavisph@gmail.com, or by mail at 172 Fifth Avenue, PMB 178, Brooklyn, NY 11217. All checks should only be made payable to "Make-a-Wish of Metro New York."
Reach Intern Rebecca Sesny at rsesny@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.