[E]SSEX — On the eve of his 35th birthday, Danny Perry paused by the side of Vermont Route 15 between Jericho and Essex, more than 60 miles from his home.
Perry is on day seven of a mission to travel by wheelchair across the state from Newport to Burlington.
In broad terms, Perry will tell you that his 70-mile journey is a protest against social injustice and government corruption.
But Perry is a natural conversationalist, and within a few moments he articulates a long list of issues that he perceives as serious problems — from dependence on fossil fuels at a global level, to economic disparity across the country, to the high rate of addiction to opiates in his Northeast Kingdom neighborhood.
Born and raised in Newport, Perry is a graduate of St. Michael’s College. Born with congenital deformities in his legs, he uses a wheelchair. He said that the inspiration for his journey struck him suddenly last week, and he decided to follow it.
Last Friday, he left his home and his wheelchair and started the trip by crawling. He started using his wheelchair after the first mile, but he plans to do the final stretch of the trip Saturday, down Church Street to Burlington City Hall, without it.
Perry estimates he averages between 5 and 10 miles a day. He has been staying at homes of friends and family members along the way.
Opiates are a big concern of Perry’s, who said that in the part of Vermont where he’s from, the impacts of addiction are huge. “In the Northeast Kingdom, there is no industry left but drugs,” he said.
Perry sees a critical need for economic development and more jobs to help people overcome addiction.
“I’ve never met a drug addict who wanted to be a drug addict, and I’ve never met a drug addict who hasn’t tried to quit at least five times,” Perry said.
Along the way, Perry stops frequently to chat with people he encounters about issues important to them. He records their thoughts — and often a selfie with them — [on his Facebook page.]
https://www.facebook.com/danny81381
Many raise concerns about jobs in Vermont, the cost of health care, lack of control in government, and opiates.
Perry said a primary goal of his journey is to encourage people to start conversations with their families, neighbors and friends about issues important to them.
“People start talking to each other and they forget I am even there,” Perry said. “And I love it because they’re coming together, supporting people. It’s a community.”
Perry has attracted a fair bit of attention online and through the media for his trip, and many recognize him along the way.
Passing cars often tap the horn as they zoom by. Perry, who draped an orange reflective safety vest marked with #crawlingforjustice from the back of his wheelchair, greets them with a wave.
While Perry rested by the side of Route 15 Friday morning, two men crossed the street and shouted “good luck” to Perry.
They recognized the man on the mission from coverage in the news, and stopped to chat with him. A few minutes later, they moved on with their day and Perry returned to the road — but not before snapping a selfie.