Dillon’s Walk to Florida BBQ
In celebration of her nephew’s brave nearly-1,000-mile walk from Michigan to Florida, raising awareness of muscular dystrophy, beach local and manager of the Beacon Beachfront Bed and Breakfast Sherry Straub-Guess is hosting a Fourth of July benefit barbecue at the Beacon on the Beach all day.
Even though Dillon and his team aren’t expected to make it down and hit the beach until August, Sherry and the Beacon Beachfront resort will be sure to host a BBQ benefit fund-raiser for Dillon and the Muscular Dystrophy Association Sunday, July 4, from 2 to 6 p.m., right after the parade.
Kicking off in the front of the resort and ending on the beach, there will be plenty of food, raffles, 50/50s and live music by Hung Jury (2 to 4 p.m.) T-Bone and Burnell (4 to 6 p.m.) and more.
“I want everyone to have a good time and really enjoy themselves,” Sherry said. “I’ve had such a great response from the area businesses. Everyone’s donated something for prizes. I really love how this community always comes together to help each other out.”
Even Dillon will hopefully be able to say hello to the fund-raisers July 4th, as Sherri said she’s going to try to set up a Podcast with Dillon during the benefit.
“Everyone that contributes during his Fourth of July benefit is invited back for the end-of-summer party with Dillon when he makes it down,” Sherry said.
If interested in making a donation toward the raffles, or to donate funds to the cause, call Sherry’s cell phone, 561-401-5985. Also, donations may be dropped off at Beacon Beachfront resort at any time, 1240 Estero Blvd.
About Dillon
A 16-year-old boy, strong at heart and twice as brave, is making his way from the northern regions of Michigan, down to Florida, all on-foot with three of his best compadres. Dillon Straub was recently diagnosed with a rare and incurable, untreatable form of muscular dystrophy known as Limb/Girdle. Doctors say he will most likely be in a wheelchair by his mid-twenties.
This 16-year-old boy refuses to give up hope and give up on his love of adventure. His Aunt Sherry of the Beacon Beachfront resort told him to come on down anytime he’d like, and she’d make sure to set him up with plane tickets.
“I’m coming down,” Sherry said Dillon told her on a recent phone call. “But, I’m walking down, not flying.”
Along with his 19-year-old, 21-year old, and 33-year old friends, Jared Kennedy, Brandon Wheeler and John May, Dillon decided to walk from his home in Hillsdale, Mich., 900 miles south to Florida, on a quest for adventure, thrill and to raise awareness of his rare disease.
“A friend and I are walking to Florida this summer from Hillsdale, Mich., to not only raise awareness about my disease and to try and raise money for research, but so I can go on this adventure before I can’t walk at all,” he said.
“I’m so proud of him,” his Aunt Sherry said. “So far, Dillon traveled over 100 miles. I set him up on his way a couple days out, making all of the hotel accommodations, talking to him at least five times a day.”
“It was rough for a little bit. But, for some reason today, my feet got broken in,” Dillon said. It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s pretty fun though we’ve been seeing a lot of things, taking lots of pictures.”
While his Aunt Sherry calls hotels and sets up accommodations for Dillon-and-friends’ travels, she said everyone along the way has been so helpful and responsive to his plight.
“People, near and far, have been helping out so much with his travel and his trip,” she said. “And he’s got a great team with him.”
“Yeah, people have been really good about it,” Dillon said. “They’ve been stopping, walking with us a bit, offering us money, donations for the cause.”
As of late Wednesday, Dillon and his crew have made it into Kentucky, ready to camp in the hills for a little ways down.
Following Dillon
A Facebook page has been set up to follow Dillon on his adventure south. Visit Facebook.com and search “Dillon’s Walk to Florida.”
Also, Dillon said he’s been posting pics and updates of his trip on his personal Facebook page, which he said he’s sharing with public.
For any other information, or if looking for a way to help, call Sherry, 561-401-5985.
Stay tuned to the Beach Bulletin for further updates on Dillon’s quest and further details on his upcoming Beach fund-raisers.