COLRAIN — Neither rain nor wind could stop the Colrain grandfather-grandson duo trudging through the elements on Route 2 and the streets of Greenfield and Shelburne Falls on Thursday.
Daniel Zinn and his 17-year-old grandson, Owen Zinn, walked 51 kilometers to honor what would have been the 51st birthday of Daniela Zinn — Daniel’s daughter and Owen’s mother — who died of breast cancer in November 2015.
Equipped with a backpack and yellow ponchos, the two began their journey to Greenfield at 6:30 a.m. They returned to Daniel Zinn’s house at around 1 p.m. before walking to Shelburne Falls at around 2 p.m. In all, Zinn estimated the journey would take about 11 hours.
The elder Zinn walked 50 kilometers last year, but he said he will be adding one each year from now on.
“My thought is to just do each year and add a kilometer,” Daniel Zinn said in a phone call before beginning the second part of his walk.
Zinn wanted little publicity about the walk last year, but he’s turned it into a fundraiser for two organizations his daughter had connections to.
The first is Chances for Children, an agency that helps orphans and families in Haiti with both health and financial issues.
“(Daniela) went through that agency to adopt our granddaughter, so we want to continue supporting that group,” Zinn added.
The second is METAvivor, a metastatic breast cancer research, support and awareness organization. Zinn said Daniela was interested in the organization’s work.
“When she was treated for breast cancer she came across this group,” Zinn explained. “We’re asking that donations be given to either of those groups.”
Zinn did the walk by himself in October last year, but he and his grandson wanted to complete it rain or shine Thursday.
“He was away at school last year when I did it,” Zinn said. “This year, I said, ‘Regardless of the weather, we were going to do it on her birthday.’”
Owen Zinn said he was happy to accompany his grandfather on the walk after missing it last year.
“I was disappointed to not do it last year,” Owen said. “To come out and be here with him is great. It’s for a good cause and it’s my mom’s birthday.”
Daniel Zinn said he is “thankful he is able” to complete the 51-kilometer walk and the motivation for doing it comes in two ways.
“To honor the memory of our daughter, that’s the most important part,” he said. “Two is part of the physical challenge, to see if I can do it.”
Zinn said the walk was not easier this year and maybe the rain was to blame.
“I think I’ll be OK, but my feet got wet so they’re a little more sore than I thought they’d be,” he said.
Zinn added that he and Owen are thankful for those who have helped along the way and any donations are an added bonus.
“We appreciate the support of the communities,” Zinn said. “We’re going to do it, donations or not.”
Asked if they would do a 52-kilometer walk next year, honoring Daniela’s 52nd birthday, Zinn replied, “That’s the plan.” Owen chimed in with, “Why not?”
Donations in honor of Daniela can be made to Chances for Children at chances4children.org/donate. Donations to METAvivor can be made at metavivor.org/take-action/donate.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.