Faith Walk takes woman around country's perimeter

SANDPOINT — Walking 5,692 miles is no easy task. Walking 5,692 miles after having your leg amputated just below the knee takes uncommon determination.

Ohio native Carol Cruise, who lost her leg in 1992 after a medical mishap, is putting her determination to work as she attempts to walk the entire perimeter of the United States.

The Faith Walk, as Cruise calls it, began in Miami, Fla., in 2002 and will conclude in the same spot Dec. 31, 2010.

A devout Christian, Cruise’s walk is not meant to raise money or awareness for any particular issue, but merely to pray for the country. Cruise said she prays for Christians to concentrate less on denominations and more on what she calls “becoming your own church.”

She also wants her journey to be an example of what’s possible in this world with a positive mindset.

“I’m determined to be a better person and not a bitter person,” Cruise said. “And I want to encourage other differently-abled people look at their ability, not their disability.”

During her walk, Cruise picked up two companions who are now part of the journey. The first was prayer partner Wendi Miller, who joined the walk in 2003. The second addition to the Faith Walk was Walker T., a three-legged Pomeranian that came on board in 2006.

As the trio walks, they plant a small cross at every mile marker to remind people, as a card on the crosses state, that “God loves you.”

On average, Cruise covers roughly 10 miles a day, which has proven enough to wear through seven pairs of shoes and seven prosthetic legs. Luckily, Cruise has been given enough of the legs — which can be very expensive — to continue on her trek.

As has been the case with her prosthetic legs, Cruise and her companions generally survive on the kindness of strangers. As they pass through most towns, at least one person usually stops and offers them lunch or a place to stay for a night, which has enabled the Faith Walk to keep moving.

When all is said and done, Cruise will have spent eight years of her life on the road. Although she thinks about it often, Cruise isn’t entirely sure what she’ll do when the walk comes to and end. She’s been offered a position at a prosthetics company, but said missionary work of some sort might be her calling.

Information: www.faithwalk.net.