muscular dystrophy doesn’t stop Daryl ‘Sammy’ Sampaga from walking around island to raise money for keiki with …

One toot (of the horn) makes me go 15 steps farther, said Daryl Sammy Sampaga, the 41-year-old Hilo native whos making an around-the-island trek to raise awareness of muscular dystrophy and funds to support keiki with disabilities. One horn pushes me more.

Sampaga, who has muscular dystrophy, which affects his leg muscles, reached the Kailua-Kona Fire Station about 5:45 p.m. Thursday after walking approximately 129 miles through South Hilo, Puna, Kau, South Kona and North Kona since leaving Hilo town Jan. 14. Sampaga, who didnt do much walking beyond to the car or store before starting this effort, averages 10 to 14 miles per day. The most he walked in one day was 16 miles.

Im so proud of him, said his 14-year-old daughter, Keahi Sampaga, who also has muscular dystrophy and walked 10 miles alongside her father Jan. 14. Im surprised he could walk this far.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of more than 30 genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles that control movement, according to the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Some forms of muscular dystrophy are seen in infancy or childhood, while others may not appear until middle age or later. There is no treatment to stop or reverse any form of muscular dystrophy, but treatments can help treat the symptoms and prevent complications.

Sampaga will leave from mile marker 129 on Mamalahoa Highway headed toward Waimea by 4 a.m. Monday. When the journey is complete, he will have traversed more than 300 miles.

Sampaga expressed his appreciation for the support every Big Island community and passing motorist has provided.

These people, Sampaga said with tears coming from his eyes, they are all my supporters.

The trek, nicknamed Operation Walk for Dreams, is just one project of his nonprofit, Operation Sammy Muscular Dystrophy. With every step Sampaga takes, he said he hopes to raise awareness of muscular dystrophy and raise money to support his nonprofits effort to purchase two canoes to take keiki with disabilities paddling in waters off Hilo.

In all, Sampaga is hoping to raise $25,000 to secure those canoes and any additional funds will be used to secure equipment and fund future operations such as a three-man tag-team triathlon.

With the canoes, he wants keiki with disabilities, not just muscular dystrophy, to experience the sport of paddling, which he called his passion and love. After not being able to pass a physical exam for baseball in the sixth grade, Sampaga said he took up paddling, which he continues today.

Originally posted here:
muscular dystrophy doesn’t stop Daryl ‘Sammy’ Sampaga from walking around island to raise money for keiki with ...