In 1989, I completed a 41-day, 1086 mile journey in his wheelchair that he affectionately called "The Tenderness Tour," a one-man effort to encourage and empower children and adults to break the cycle of abuse and violence in their own lives. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse and having recently experienced the loss of my wife and child, I was at a point of desperation when the Tenderness Tour began.
I left downtown Indianapolis with $20.00 in my pocket, a backpack on my wheelchair and a few press releases to help spread the word about his mission. A paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida, the mission was unreasonable and, perhaps, even a bit crazy.
Yet, at this point in my life I knew it was going to take something really extraordinary to bring me back to a place of hope.
I returned from that first Tenderness Tour a renewed man with a sense of purpose and inspired to change my own life and to spend the rest of my life inspiring others to heal themselves, serve others and break the cycle of family violence.
Since that first Tenderness Tour, I've wheeled over 3,000 miles in my wheelchair and raised approximately $250,000 for a variety of children's organizations around the world. I've offered smaller tours around the country in such places as Orlando, Phoenix, St. Louis, Dallas, San Diego and beyond. I've wheeled from Indianapolis to Chicago (3x), Cincinnati (2x), Lexington and all around the state of Indiana. I've provided free to low cost presentations to churches, schools, civic groups, city leaders and more and, in the process, spoken to thousands of adults and children with a message of hope and healing.
"Give a Girl a Chance" is a celebration of my own 20th Anniversary of the Tenderness Tour and, after 20 years on the road, my offering of the final Tenderness Tour in October 2009 as my own health reaches a point where I know it is time to stop.
Filled with music that will inspire you and heal you, make you remember and soothe your soul, "Give a Girl a Chance" features outstanding artists from around the country from up-and-coming local acts to national recording musicians.
Since 1989, 100% of the funds raised on the Tenderness Tour have been donated to civic groups as we are an all volunteer organization. Similarly, 100% of the profits from your purchase of this CD will be donated directly to the three recipients of this year's Tenderness Tour:
1) Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence- To help establish a children's resource center within their existing resource center. This is done in celebration of the Resource Center's director, Harriet Clare, who once owned a bookstore called "Dreams & Swords" and who was one of the first people to encourage me to tell my story.
2) New Community Project- To support the "Give a Girl a Chance" program providing educational opportunities and technical training for girls and women in countries where this is not always possible.
3) Young Peacemakers Film Festival- This new festival is kicking off on the Tenderness Tour this year, an opportunity to encourage peacemaking among children and youth through the power of filmmaking.
For more information, to donate to the 20th Anniversary Tenderness Tour or to volunteer for this year's road team, please e-mail me or visit tendernesstour.com
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