GREENFIELD — There was a time when Jeremy “Jay” Williams thought he would lose everything. Addicted to opioids, Williams relied on the kindness and help of others to get clean, and he’s been sober for three years.
Now, he’s walking 500 miles to raise awareness and money for homelessness and addiction, hoping that the people who interact with him while he’s walking will donate to organizations that help people who have similar problems he faced.
“I could have lost my wife. I could have lost my daughter,” said Williams, of Greenfield. “I only have a limited amount of time in this life, and I want to use it for good.”
Saturday, Williams walked around the track at Greenfield High School for four hours. He’s been there every day since the new year began, each day walking more than 16 miles on the track — in the snow and rain — and he will be there every Thursday through Sunday, and some Saturdays, throughout the morning and afternoon until he hits 500 miles.
The point, Williams said, is that people might notice him as he walks continuously, often holding signs with slogans about addiction or homelessness. Williams said he will accept donations to give to local nonprofit ServiceNet, but encourages people to send donations themselves.
“It’s really to try to raise funds,” Williams said. “I’m doing it at the track because I figured there is an opportunity for people to stop by and ask any questions, or walk along with me.”
This isn’t the first 500 miles Williams has walked to support a cause. Last winter, Williams spent two months walking for hours each day through 16 Western Massachusetts communities, including Greenfield, Turners Falls, Buckland, Charlemont, Deerfield, Gill, Greenfield, Leyden, Montague and Northfield. He logged 1.2 million steps and lost 25 pounds on those walks, and held signs supporting volunteerism.
According to Williams, this recent endeavor is personal. He spent a month homeless, and was abusing painkillers, which he said gave him energy, before getting clean with the help of his wife, Tina, daughter, Lilly, and the medicine Suboxone.
Williams said the walks last year didn’t give people much of an opportunity to talk with him, and walking along the side of the road for long periods was dangerous, he said.
“The track has been working out great. I’ve had a couple people come and donate there at the track,” he said. “I chose there mostly because it is the heart of the community and I will be visible.”
He also said the location is symbolic.
“It’s the heart of the community, and the kids in the high school are the heart of our future,” Williams said.
After this walk, Williams said he wants to find a way to run similar charity walks for a living and is toying with ideas like starting a charity race.
For now, he’s focused on reaching 500 miles, “constantly eating” enough calories to keep himself going and inspiring others to donate. It’s been hard, he said, especially with the recent weather.
“You find yourself looking down a lot. Your eyes start bugging out because everything is just white, so you have to look up, look at the trees,” Williams said.
“I wanted it to be a challenge,” he added. “I do like to challenge myself. Homelessness and opioid addiction are huge challenges, so I didn’t want this to be easy for me.”
Williams said he realizes he might not raise a lot of money, but said walking 500 miles is worth it if it starts a conversation that helps even just one person.
“I hate to see people hurt,” he said. “I know I’m not going to save the world, but, one person at a time, if you can help anybody it’s worth it.”
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.