GREENFIELD — Not long ago, Larry Heyn stopped to chat with a group of young cyclists trekking across the country while he and his wife were on a mission trip in western New York, along the Erie Canal.
The Minneapolis native was inspired by their ambitious journey, and told his friend, Neil Fuller, that he was considering beginning his own cross-country adventure. It would likely take him about three months, he said.
Fuller looked at Heyn and smirked, asking, “Are you stupid? Why would you waste three months of your life just riding a bike?”
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The statement was blunt, but it stuck with him, Heyn said. So before he strapped on his helmet and started pedaling across the nation, the 67-year-old Minnesotan dedicated his trip to a cause much bigger than one man and his bicycle: spreading awareness for the national issue of child abuse.
Heyn made a short stop in Greenfield on Wednesday, about seven weeks into his trip, which began in Mission Bay, San Diego. He especially loves stopping to talk to salt of the earth people in small towns, places like Greenfield, because of the locals’ sense of neighborly support for his cause, he said.
Heyn’s wife, Debi, accompanies him in their RV — nicknamed the “Sag Wagon” — leap-frogging ahead several miles and waiting for him to catch up. The duo typically travel about 50 to 55 miles per day, after which they set up shop for the night at an RV stop or campsite, Heyn said.
Heyn said his wife has been a tremendous source of support, especially throughout the physically draining cuts of the trip. At one stretch through the deserts of the Imperial Valley, they encountered 100 degree heat for a week straight, he said.
“I told him that if he was really going to do it, he had to do it,” Debi Heyn said. “And that he couldn’t quit.”
Larry Heyn chose the cause he’s riding for after watching a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court Justice, about the growing need to protect children from various kinds of abuse.
He noted that while the issue is normally characterized by dramatic and sensational human trafficking cases, child abuse takes many different forms that people don’t often think about, including emotional abuse.
Child abuse is not a problem that’s only found in the inner city or in more rural areas like Hancock County, he said. It’s found across the board.
“It goes from the poor man to the wealthiest of all,” his wife added. “It’s there, and it’s got to stop. It’s everybody’s problem.”
The Heyn family is not raising or collecting money for their trip, but they spark genuine conversations with the people they encounter and share their personal website, shieldthechildren.com, where people can learn more about the issue and how to stop it.
After Greenfield, the Heyns will continue east, through Richmond, Ohio and West Virginia, after which they will at last arrive at their final destination in Washington, D.C.
While supporting a worthy cause — the couple gets to see all of America without taking the interstate. They’ve seen the oceans, deserts, mountains, trails, small towns and all, they said.
“It has been a very rewarding thing to see America,” Larry Heyn said. “Most people don’t see it up close.”
Debi Heyn said her husband had always wanted to make his way across the country without taking the interstate, even before seeing the movie “Forrest Gump,” in which the title character runs across the United States. Throughout the trip, Debi Heyn has thought back to their friend, Neil, telling Larry that he was stupid for undergoing such a task.
“I can see him standing there saying that,” Debi Heyn said. “Now I want to tell him: “Well stupid is as stupid does.”
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Heyn encourages all of those inspired by his story to visit their website, shieldthechildren.com, to learn more about child abuse and how to stop it.
Larry Heyn can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
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