Curtis Hargrove expected to reach Ellen DeGeneres’ Hollywood studio on Sunday after a 49-day run from Port Alberni, B.C.
The former Red Deer College student’s 2,400-km journey — Hugginz Highway — was all about delivering a letter and a handmade blanket from his friend Angel Magnussen to the TV host.
Magnussen, a 19-year-old with down syndrome and autism, is the creator of the non-profit Hugginz By Angel.
She sews blankets, pillows and knits soft hats and donates them to sick children and children with special needs in hospital.
Magnussen also wants to invite DeGeneres to come to her sewing studio in Port Alberni to help make a blanket.
“It will be seven weeks as of Sunday on the road. We haven’t had any drastic changes or anything major happen. Just a couple of injuries along the way,” said Hargrove on Saturday from Thousand Oaks, Calif.
He did not know if anyone would be at the studio on Sunday, but Los Angles police advised him it would be a good day to run since there would be less traffic on the roads.
“If no one is there and I can’t give her the blanket I will just go Monday and hope for the best.”
An episode of the show is scheduled to be taped Monday and he hoped that social media messages would alert studio staff of his arrival and they would welcome him.
“I just want to get the blanket in Ellen’s hands,” said Hargrove, 26, of Cold Lake.
“I want the world to know who Angel is, what she does for kids and fighting her own battles as well. She deserves to get that five minutes to have Ellen sit there and make a blanket with her.”
Hargrove met Magnussen a few years ago as a result of their volunteer activities, and has been running about 50 km a day to reach Los Angeles.
Back in Central Alberta, Deb Hrywkiw, 53, of Red Deer, is also trying to help Magnussen. She is planning to visit Magnussen in November and spend an afternoon sewing, and by bringing a huge supply of fabric.
“I have been following (Magnussen) on Facebook. It just amazes me. I sew and I just can’t believe what she does. Even when she’s super sick, she’s in the hospital sewing,” Hrywkiw said.
Hrywkiw, who works at Costco, is collecting donations of cotton or flannel fabric, at least one metre is size.
Her goal is to collect 90 kilograms (200 pounds) of fabric.
Hyrwkiw can be contacted at debhry@gmail.com.
For more information on the run visit facebook.com/chargrove15 or www.hugginzhighway.com.