TONIGHT: LB Teen's Walk Across America Needs Support

Only five months after suddenly losing his mother to breast cancer, 19-year-old Arthur Hitchcock prepares for a long haul. To honor her and all other moms, this teenager will be embarking on a journey, on foot and by himself, across the U.S. in hopes of bringing attention to the disease and raising funds for research. His mom knew, as she was dying, what he was planning, and she cheered him.

Departing from Long Beach May 11, his plan includes crossing 28-30 states and traveling 68-69,000 miles to reach Maine.

Before he leaves, many members of the community are lending a hand where they can. Gatsby Books, located at the corner of Spring and Bellflower, is holding a 'Poetry and Photography Benefit' for him tonight.

Sean Moore, Gatsby owner and friend of Hitchcock, said of the journey, “it’s a fantastic and powerful thing. I wish I had that kind of gusto when I was younger. I want to support him in any way I can.”

He opened his dream bookstore only eight months ago, and regularly hosts poetry nights, book discussions and local community events such as this one.

Moore said of tonight’s event, “We’re not exactly sure what it’s going to be, but it will be magical.”

The entertainment so far includes photography by Hitchcock, poems by members of the Long Beach Writer’s Block, an Open Mic portion and probably some guitars. Apparently, the group requested a pow-wow-like set up on the floor instead of chairs.

Hitchcock may be traveling alone, but many will be with him in spirit.

He has always loved travel, walking and photography, and in fact has toyed with the idea of documenting a cross-country walk for years, but only recently has become tragically inspired to put his ideas into action. When his mother suddenly fell ill to Stage 4 Breast Cancer and passed away shortly afterward in October 2010, Arthur realized he had inadvertently found a reason for putting one foot in front of the other.

“I had told her about my idea when she was in the hospital, and she was very supportive. She was such an amazing woman, a strong woman, and she’s done so much, faced so much hardship, from working on strawberry fields to being a missionary, and from doing humanitarian work in Berlin the summer before the Wall went down to working as a credit analyst and a vice president of a bank,” Hitchcock remarked with barely perceptible cracks of emotion breaking an overall calm demeanor.

“She’s always been an inspiration,” he marveled, awe in his voice. "And she was not a sad person who would want me to dwell.”

His father died when he was two years old (a photographer) and now that his mother has so unexpectedly passed away from breast cancer, he said there’s nothing really tying him to any one place. He has some family members and some great friends, he said, and he expressed a great love for the creative energies flooding Long Beach right now.

But he feels that it is time to go out and experience the world on his own.

Hitchcock has his route generally planned out using Google Maps and will be documenting his journey through photography (which has been his passion for years), video, written blogs and possibly even a professional documentary film crew.

“The amount of support I’ve received so far is just incredible. People have been reaching out to me, and this person will know this person who will know that person and traveling around, I’m going to be relying a lot on the kindness of strangers.”

He is humble, and despite the publicity already racing his way, he knows why he is doing this. The time it took for a seemingly healthy person (who regularly rode her bike around Long Beach) to unexpectedly depart from this earth was only about a month for Janet Hitchcock. Arthur describes the shock of this experience as being “disconnecting, surreal, like a movie, like it doesn’t make sense.”

This mother's son, whose vivacious spirit seems to take after her own, hopes to one day start his own non-profit organization for Breast Cancer research and awareness so that he can be sure that funds are going to the right places. As of now, he is using gofundme.com to raise money for the cause as he seeks sponsorship and builds relationships with organizations.

 You can donate here, or contribute to his personal walking fund here.

Because he’ll be going for such a long duration, high quality gear and ample food will be key to survival and success.

In addition to raising awareness about breast cancer – like encouraging regular check ups and testing – and gathering donations for research, Hitchcock really wants this trip to be about community, about being human and connecting on a real level. He hopes to communicate deeply with the people he meets, listening to their stories and ways of dealing with pain and hardship, both positive and negative. Whether it is cancer and death, or Alzheimer’s or poverty, everyone has a story to tell, and this journey is about forging genuine connections and listening to each other.

“I am amazed by the strength of people who have to go through this sort of pain. When I tell people my story, they often open up to me about their own experiences, and it seems like everyone can relate or knows someone who can relate,” Hitchcock said.

Here in Long Beach, Hitchcock is part of a dynamic group of young artists, poets and musicians who meet every Wednesday night just past the Shore by the bluffs at the Writer’s Block, a free and open space for people to share their spoken art. A friend of Hitchcock, Dennis Ashcroft-Zanabria, is steadfastly dedicated to spreading the word about the upcoming journey, often reciting his own epic poem featuring the poetic wanderings of this gold-hearted traveler.

Though local law enforcement often breaks up the peaceful and licit gatherings due to noise complaints from a nearby residence, the Writer's Block is the sort of open and expressive community attitude Hitchcock hopes to encounter and encourage in his travels. And one day he hopes to turn his parents' house near El Dorado Park into a community art center in memory of them, creating a space where people can come and feel supported.

“Right now, it’s time to move on and see change,” he said.

It just goes to show that strength of heart and strong convictions can go a long way - a really long way.

Gatsby Books is hosting a 'Photography and Poetry Benefit' in support of Arthur’s journey this Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at 5535 E. Spring St. Call (562)208-5862 for more information, or just come and meet Arthur.

Visit Arthur’s blog at hitchcockwalks.com, where he will be posting poems, stories, photos and videos along the way, and where you can see his map of destinations. E-mail him with any helpful resources at californiatomaine@gmail.com or add him on Facebook at facebook.com/arthur.hitchcock.

This will certainly be a journey to follow. Check back here with Patch to follow Arthur's progress.