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Amputee Walks Over 1,500 Miles in US for Positive MessageJulio Montoya, whose right leg was amputated below the knee due
to a landmine explosion in the jungles of Peru, could be called a
"walking machine."
Instead of overwhelming him, this personal tragedy made him
decide to begin walking journeys with five goals in mind: 1) To
spread and to stimulate the spirit of achievement in youth and the
disabled; 2) to motivate and encourage society to accept persons
with disabilities as they are and value them for who they really
are; 3) to count on the support of large and small companies in
providing the jobs that will allow the disabled to forge their
futures; 4) to create the Foundation for Training and Development
of the Handicapped of Latin America; and 5) to form a bond between
the youth and persons with disabilities in our communities.
 Montoya, a Peruvian citizen in his mid-30s, walked
the coasts of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. He then turned to the
United States and walked from Boston, Massachusetts, to Miami,
Florida, a journey of about four months, ending in late October
2004. Montoya had received medical care at Johns Hopkins University
Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and because of his South American
walks, he was invited to be part of its graduation ceremony.
Montoya then decided to use the remaining months on his visa to
carry his message over 1,500 miles down the East Coast of the
US.
Hospitality Along the Way
He had no sponsorship, and all along the way, generous people
and organizations provided food, shelter, and support. He gained
friends, pins, state flags, and great experiences.
However, in Marion, South Carolina, someone saw Montoya changing
his prosthesis and thought he was undressing, according to a story
in Clarendon Today (Clarendon County, South Carolina; www.clarendontoday.com, September 23, 2004).
Police were called; Montoya was arrested and spent two days in
jail. However, the incident had a positive result: his residual
limb had become badly infected, and after authorities realized
their mistake, he was taken to a hospital for treatment paid for by
the city of Marion.
After Montoya reached Miami, Mayor Manny Diaz and Peruvian
Consul Jorge E. Roman Morey accompanied him as he ended his
marathon trip by walking from South Bayshore Drive to Miami's City
Hall via Pan American Drive. A proclamation presentation was then
made in his honor. "I want to be an inspiration for the physically
challenged, especially teenagers," Montoya told Clarendon
Today. "Some people kill themselves after they have a problem.
They think that after accidents, their lives are over. I am here to
show them that they are not, and they can achieve anything they
want."
For more information, visit Julio Montoya's website: http://www.caminoalfuturo.org 
Table Of Contents - January 2005
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