Woman's journey takes her through Summerville

EDWARD C. FENNELL/STAFF
The Post and Courier

Lyn Hanush, 66, (left) of Summerville waves to passers-by while walking with friend Daryl Fahey on Summerville's Main Street. Hanush is on a walk from Florida to Maine, and has previously walked the West Coast and all the way across the United States. Fahey of Florida walks at times with Hanush.

While most great-grandmothers would choose a comfy vehicle rather than their own legs as a means of traversing Summerville, Lyn Hanush had no problem hiking it.

After all, Hanush, 66, has previously walked the entire West Coast and strolled 6,000 miles across the continent — from Washington state to Florida. She is currently on a walking trip up the East Coast, from Florida to Maine.

Hanush, from California, spent some time in Colleton and Dorchester counties this week while on the 2,000-mile journey north. She started this trip March 3 near Ormond Beach, Fla., and hopes in October to walk into Madawaska, Maine.

Although her journeys fulfill a life-long dream of sorts, Hanush is not just walking for her health. Ever since 9/11 she's been on a mission.

She walks, facing traffic, carrying an American flag, while waving to vehicles and people who pass by.

"I am praying for the nation," she said. "With every wave goes a prayer for the people, for homes, churches, schools and businesses. I pray God will bless the people on the highway and that they will have a personal relationship with God," she said.

Hanush, who walked through Summerville with Daryl Fahey, 62, a friend from Florida, said the best part about walking is, "It feels good to be out here in the nation."

"I love meeting people. Many of them stop and talk to me," Hanush said. She said, there have been a few encounters with bad weather and dogs she'd rather forget.

When asked if any charities or other organizations were helping to make her walk possible, Hanush said simply, "God is my sponsor."

Friends with a car are often not far from Hanush, and after she has walked up to 20 miles a day she is driven to a motel. The next day Hanush picks up the walk from the point she left off.

This week saw her passing through Cottageville on her way to Summerville, where she headed on U.S. Highway 17A towards S.C. Highway 41, en route to North Carolina.

A former medical assistant and secretary to a YMCA in San Jose, Hanush said she dreamed as a child of riding a bike across the country. That never happened for her, but when she turned 40 she took up long-distance walking, and after 9/11 decided it was time "to walk and pray for America."

She has written a book called "Putting a Face on America."

Anyone who wants to help Hanush may contact her at 805-610-0274. To read a journal of Hanush's walk go to www.greatamericanjourney.com.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.