BAREFOOTING IT TO ATLANTA

Samaritan's Feet founder Manny Ohonme and Crocs shoewear representative Melissa Koester are part of a group on a 300-mile trek to help raise awareness of the plight of 300 million children. While many people in the United States fret about not having designer shoes, more than 300 million children around the globe wish they could afford a pair of any kind.

For much of the life of Manny Ohonme, this was a reality. The Nigerian native often had to walk long distances shoeless, a practice that produced blisters and sores on his feet and toes.

However, a Wisconsin man felt Ohonme's pain. Making a trip to the poverty riddled nation about 30 years ago, the "Good Samaritan" gave the youth his first pair of shoes.

Ohonme's new "toys" would inspire him to compete in athletics, specifically basketball, which allowed him to earn a full scholarship to the University of North Dakota.

"I was blessed to have good people walk into my life," Ohonme said.

Despite his successes, he still remembers the blessing of his first pair of shoes while also hoping millions of other children can feel the same joy.

Ohonme, the founder of the Christian humanitarian group Samaritan's Feet, and several supporters began a 300-mile journey on foot last Saturday from Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., as part of the 2008 World Walk, an effort to bring relief to the hurting feet of children worldwide.

The organization has a goal of raising $500,000 and 100,000 pairs of shoes during the 300- mile trek. The group passed through Cherokee County on Monday afternoon.

As part of the trail, which will end in Atlanta, Ohonme is walking without shoes just as he did many years ago.

"My feet are talking to me," Ohonme said, "but I have no problem doing this for the kids without shoes. I remember exactly how that felt."

Walking without the aid of shoes can cause a number of health issues, not the least of which is exposure to animals and parasites.

Samaritan's Feet is an international humanitarian organization providing relief to the feet of hurting and poor children around the world who have been displaced due to poverty, war and natural disasters.

The organization has donated more than one million pairs of shoes to children in 42 countries. Ohonme said the group's goal is to donate 10 million pairs of shoes over the next 10 years.

"Our hope is to inspire people all over to help," Ohonme said. "We want to get some shoes on these kids' feet. This walk is all part of that ripple effect we are hoping to create."

Crocs has already offered to help, donating 40,000 pair of shoes as part of the effort. In addition, the shoe provider's sales united program manager Melissa Koester is making the trek.

"I'm a little sore but it's well worth it," Koester said. "But I have passion for the job and the cause, and wouldn't have it any other way."