The Raggedy Crow flies for others.

The first time I saw the Raggedy Crow, he went by the nickname “Tatted Chef”.  As this giant stepped out of the small doorway of the RV, I would be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t feel a little intimated.  This long haired, gray bearded, tattooed giant standing at 6 foot 7 inches approached me with his strangely long arm to shake my hand.  His smile and sparkling eyes immediately won my heart and the heart of my 5 year old, Lil’G.     At the time, he was part of a 4 person running team raising money for the type of cancer I had survived, Sarcoma.  I was moved by the reality that this giant was giving up a year of his life to raise awareness for the forgotten cancer that almost took my life.  That day, he made a special connection with my youngest daughter when they discovered they shared the same birthday.  For the past 5 years since that encounter, she often refers to our giant as one of her best friends, though they are separated by 47 years.

Everett ran the entire perimeter of the Northeast corner of the USA for Sarcoma that year.    It was at some point during the run, he met several children who were fighting this beast called Sarcoma.  If you are not familiar with Sarcoma, it is a bone and soft tissue cancer with many sub-types that mostly affects children and young adults.   I’m not sure which specific  child touched his heart during that run, but at some point he heard his calling.  He found his life purpose while his feet became covered in blisters on the hard pavement of the USA.  From that point on, this former Muay Thai fighter and gourmet chef would only live for one reason.  That reason was to bring awareness, hope and increased funds to the fight of Childhood Cancer.

Since our first meeting, this gentle giant has run, walked or hiked approximately 7,000 miles.  In the following years, Everett joined  4another, an organization to run across the  USA under the Childhood Cancer banner.  He has traveled to Ecuador to bring resources to a local hospital.  Most recently  he attempted to traverse the full length of the Appalachian  Trail from Georgia to Maine.  This year he made it approximately 3/4 of the way up the AT when he was struck down with Lyme Disease.   His heart seems broken that he will not be able to finish the AT this year for his cause.

 

He often finds himself in temporary residence each year in California with the sole purpose of saving enough money to go back out to serve his life calling.    He is a humble, gentle giant with a heart as big as he is tall.   I wish I could fully understand or convey his heart on this post, but it is impossible to completely describe.  When I think of him, I often find myself questioning my own purpose and calling.  Where does that level of passion come from?  He has never had a child or a family member suffer from this beast known as childhood cancer.  So why does he do this?  When asked this question, he just shakes his head slowly, tears up and says, “It is just my purpose”.

Please follow our Mile Marker #2 on his social media pages as follows:

https://www.instagram.com/raggedycrow/

https://www.facebook.com/raggedycrowadvocate/?ref=br_rs

https://www.facebook.com/everett.smith1