He’s walking 2,180 miles for grandma

Jordan Conner is accomplishing two goals with every step he takes.

The 22-year-old is raising research money for Alzhei- mer’s disease by walking the length of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

“My goal is to raise $15,000, which I’m over halfway through the hike,” he said. “I’ve raised $4,500. I’m happy with that amount, but to reach my goal would be great.”

Conner’s grandmother, Carol Stromsky of Canton, is one of 5 million Americans currently living with the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association says that figure will increase to 14 million by 2050.

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Built between 1921 to 1937, it is maintained by the National Parks Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Conner began his hike on May 30 from Delaware Water Gap that straddles the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border. He plans to complete it by Oct. 6 in Spring Mountain, Ga.

Conner lived in Canton until age 7 when his family moved to West Lafayette in Coshocton County. He said his grandmother was diag- nosed about four years ago, “but we’d been seeing signs of it last five or six.”

“It was getting to the point when I’d go visit her, she’d be asking same questions over and over,” he said.

Conner, who graduated from Miami University in May, said he discovered the Appalachian Trail while hik- ing the Great Smoky Moun- tains in Tennessee during his freshman year.

“We were parked at a trailhead where we planned on hiking 4.5 miles,” he recalled. “There was a sign that said, ‘Appalachian Trail, Mount Katahdin, Maine, 1,900 miles.’ I was totally confused, so I looked it up. My mind was stirring that maybe it’s something I wanted to do.”

Earlier this month, Conner was sidelined by a foot injury, taking him off the trail for 10 days. He resumed hiking about five days ago.

Cheryl Kanetsky, execu- tive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter, said the organization is grateful for people such as Conner.

“Jordan’s story is such an inspiration to all those who are currently on the journey of living with Alzhei- mer’s disease,” she said in a statement. “His passion to raise awareness and funds to support services and critical research is a great example of how anyone can make a big difference in this fight.”

Conner said there are large communities along the trail where residents go out of their way to help hikers, from volunteer drivers to people who open their homes for overnight stays.

“There are so many peo- ple willing to help, even with COVID going on,” he said. “People are so willing to help. It’s incredible.”

Conner said the trail itself has so many hikers, people are rarely alone.

“I’ve only camped alone two or three times,” he said.

He said he has aspirations to work in public service.

“Part of the reason I’m out here (is) to figure out what I want to do,” he said.

Conner notes that every hiker has a trail nickname.

“Mine is ‘Captain America,’” he said.

“Steve Rogers was sort of a short, scrawny kid who wanted to save the world,” Conner said. “I’m a short, scrawny kid who just wants to do some good in the world.”