Don Stevenson, Auburn’s 74-year-old ultra-walker, has made the turn for home in his journey around the state of Washington, a benefit for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) and 10-year-old Cullen Steele.

Stevenson was walking through Apple Valley, having reached the city of Grandview on Saturday. He is on pace to cover the approximate 1,200 miles in his effort to raise funds and awareness for COTA and Cullen, a student at Auburn’s Holy Family Catholic School who faces a possible double-lung and heart transplant because of pulmonary hypertension.

“I’m amazed with this wine country. It’s so rich and fertile,” Stevenson said. “Not only does the Prosser area have some of the finest vineyards in the world, it also has abundant crops. It reminds me of Canaan Land of Bible fame.

“This is a brewer’s and distiller’s heaven. Perhaps Prosser Valley should be called ‘The Valley of Spirits.’ “

The Pacin’ Parson hopes to complete the “Walking Washington for the Breath of Life” event by Aug. 20, the day of a benefit concert for Cullen.

Stevenson officially began his walk July 6 from Auburn City Hall before making a clockwise trip around the perimeter of the state. He is averaging about 30 miles a day.

Stevenson also is dedicating his walk to a personal friend, Betty Mayfield, who is afflicted with PH.

Stevenson is a former teacher, pastor, volunteer, firefighter, truck driver and Marine. He has logged about 45,000 for charities since 1998.

In 2008, he finished a 13,000-mile walk – from Seattle to New York City – for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America and for a friend affected by the disorder.

In the last 11 years, Stevenson has performed many benefit walks for various charitable organizations and people with physical challenges, birth defects and debilitating diseases, namely the Alzheimer’s Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Huntington’s Disease Society, Spina Bifida Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Maria Federicci Trust Fund, Special Olympics Organization.

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How you can help

• Contributions: (online) www.cotaforcullens.com; (mail) 2501 W. Cota Drive, Bloomington, Ind., 47403; (e-mail) cota@cota.org. Donations may be made in person at any Wells Fargo Bank branch location using account number 3523561722

• Volunteers: Those who would like to help with fundraising activities for Cullen Steele can contact community coordinator Amy O’Donnell-Riley at 253-333-1755 or arjunyer@yahoo.com.

• Benefit: “Buddy Holly” concert will be held in Cullen’s behalf at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Auburn Avenue Theatre, 10 Auburn Ave. For tickets, e-mail arjunyer@yahoo.com.

• Information: www.cota.org, 1-800-366-2682