Q. Who is Cesar Becerra?

A. Born and raised in Miami, FL. Becerra is a 31 year old, Cuban American who was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes on Jan. 4th, 2000. Before he set off to travel full time, Becerra was a self professed Pack Rat, with collections, nick nacks and “stuff” warehoused in 5 different locations in Miami. It didn’t help that he was the president of The Memorabilia Collector’s Club. Becerra studied history and taught South Florida History at Florida International University and Miami Dade Community College. Becerra has published numerous articles in dozens of newspapers and magazines such as The Miami Herald, Miami Living Magazine, South Florida History Magazine, St. Petersburg Times, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Tropical Trails Magazine and many, many more.

In 1996, Becerra founded Echoes of South Florida, as a historic interpretation company that focused on anniversary celebrations such as The Centennial of The City of Miami, Everglades National Park’s 50th Anniversary, The Centennial of The Spanish American War, America’s Millennium Cellebration, Frankies Pizza’s 50th Anniversary, Florida International University’s 25th Anniversary, just to name a few. In 1999, Becerra drove to all 50 states inside his 1979 Chevrolet Malibu Classic Station Wagon which was patriotically decorated like a giant American Flag. After driving 51,000 miles, a documentary on that voyage aired on The Travel Channel and the journey was publicized in over 60 newspapers, 40 local television affiliate news shows, NPR, PBS and 20 morning radio shows.

After that journey, Becerra was hired by business titan Hyler Bracey of Atlanta Georgia’s HB Artworks to promote a vehicle called Big Horn – a half-million dollar state of the art machine that showed the beauty and sounds of antique bells, horns and whistles. While in Atlanta, Becerra met (then) nine year old Blake Duckworth, a Type 1 Juvenile Diabetic who changed Becerra’s perception of his disease. Duckworth’s courageous attitude and knowledge of his diabetes inspired Becerra to attempt to hike the 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail as his first fundraising attempt for the ADA and JDF. Becerra then moved to Los Angeles to become the marketing director for The Los Angeles Filmmakers Cooperative, The Catalina Fast Speed Ferry and Incubate LA. Becerra has literally lessened his load over the last six years and is virtually “stuff-less” and helps lead workshops on downsizing and is a professional organizer with strong focus and talent on Garage Sales and E-bay selling as a proactive and profitable way to downsize.

Becerra lectures on numerous historical, travel and environmental subjects as a way to help fund this journey. He loves to meet people and crowds, no matter what size really energize him. Becerra is also an excellent cook specializing in his mother’s Cuban Dish “Arroz con Pollo” (yellow rice and chicken). He will and has cooked it in almost all of the 50 states and would love to prepare it for you or your community. He even does dishes. Becerra is great with school kids and is willing to literally “walk” right into your school and present his talks in a creative and exciting way that kids really enjoy.

Q. What exactly does the World Walk entail?

A. First of all, it is not a race, and although less than a dozen people have walked around the world, Cesar is the first Diabetic to attempt to do so. Obviously you cant walk on water so in a nutshell, Becerra will walk where he can walk, then on most water crossings he will go by ferry, cruise ship or some sort of water vessel. Becerra’s trip differs radically from other trip where the world walkers walked through desserts, swamps and vast stretches of nothingness. Becerra’s journey is a “World Walk for Diabetes” and he will walk through carefully chosen countries that have a particular major role in the modern day Diabetes story.

Q. How long will it take?

A. Becerra is not a speed walker, has no home, or property and has completely given himself to this cause and so he is in no rush to finish. The “World Walk” is his job. He will at times (if a community clicks with his talents and wants to host some lectures) be willing to stay a week, but generally will only be around for a day or two. It all depends on the communities “welcome mat.” Because of this pace, it is hard to tell just how long the entire journey will take. Becerra is estimating eight to ten years.

Q. Where will he stay?

A. Becerra will have a tent with him in areas where there is no home, hotel, or hostel to stay at. He is open to staying just about anywhere, from a guest room, couch, yard, hotel, motel, B&B, park, wilderness area etc…Becerra will in most cases stay with SERVAS hosts along the way. Servas (see usservas.org) is an international organization which promotes peace through cultural homestays. Becerra has been a member for several years now.

Q. How can I help the cause?

A. There are actually, quite frankly, dozens of ways to help. Here are just a few:

1. Donate a monetary, tax deductible contribution made payable to either the American Diabetes Association or to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and mail all checks or money orders to World Walk for Diabetes, Attn: Cesar A. Becerra, 14021 SW 109 Street, Miami, FL 33186.

2. If you are a hotel, motel, B&B, hostel or other accommodations owner or manager, it would be a gift to Cesar to have a one night stay over donated to the journey. There will be plenty of nights where Cesar will be roughing it and a night stay at your place every now and then will mean quite a bit to keeping up the morale of a “World Walker” like Cesar. In exchange, Cesar always thanks his sponsors through his web site, e-mail journal, and in some cases he would not mind swapping a one night stay for a “work for stay” type arrangement.

3. Host a lecture or presentation that Cesar can give in your community on a variety of subjects. Although there is a separate listing with full details on each of these talks, here is a listing of the general topics:

A. America at the turn of the Millennium; Cesar’s 50 state road trip.
B. An Appalachian Journey; Cesar’s 2,000 mile hike from Maine to Georgia.
C. Wind Across the Everglades, The Audubon Warden Story
D. The Unknown Story of the Navy K-Blimps of World War II
E. Pioneers of the “last frontier”; The Development of South Florida
F. Everglades National Park; Beacon of The Environmental Future
G. Living and Living Large with Diabetes; A “new” beginning.
H. The First Big Step; Formula for living your dreams.

Becerra is willing to give any of the above mentioned lectures at no cost other than a place to stay and a meal. Becerra might (if the ocassion matches the spirit of the journey) also ask permission to place a small donation box near the podium for donations that will benefit the trip. Usually Becerra will need a large blackboard/dry erase board or several poster boards for illustration or I cases that the group or organization wants the full presentations with slides, video and/or power-point presentation, the host organization is responsible for the shipping costs of said media materials to and from the lecture hall.4. Hiring Cesar.

Becerra is very much willing to work to help keep his dream/journey going. Communities, groups, businesses or individuals that might have a need for marketing or public relations, professional organizing or a host of other needs that Becerra could help out with, are more than encouraged to consider hiring Cesar for a day or two or even a week or more. In many cases, Becerra is willing to accept other types of compensation. Cesar will donate TWENTY-FIVE percent of any monetary earnings to The American Diabetes Association.

5. Purchase a delicious Gourmet Pizza from Miami.
Becerra was the chief designer of Frankie’s Pizza’s 40th anniversary in 1995 and outhor of a 60 page book on the historic pizza shop. Bon Apetit Magazine named Frankies one of Americas top ten Gourmet Pizza Shops. This is no ordinary pizza and you can host a party with Gourmet Pizza (with a pedigree!) from Miami and a contribution will be made to the World Walk for Diabetes journey and a small percetage will also be sent to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and American Diabetes Association. The pizza will be shipped next day air service as a half-baked/half frozen pizza ready to be placed in your oven or into your freezer for later re-heating. An order of two large pizza’s will be the minimum order allowed for this offer.

6. Purchase a copy of Cesar’s Appalachian Trail or 50 state road trip book.
Becerra is the co author of two books from two separate voyages all of which were produced and written during the voyages themselves. A five dollar contribution from each book will be donated to The American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The road trip book/journal is a 200 page spiral bound edition of the weekly newsletters with hundreds of essays about America at the end of the millennium all written in 1999. The hike book is a 330 page spiral bound edition of the state by state newsletters written (with hundreds of illustrations) during a year and 23 day hike on the Appalachian Trail.

7. Garage/Yard Sales and or Ebay Trading Assistance or Donations.
Cesar is quite frankly a master at organizing yard and/or garage sales whether they be small ones such as in Connecticut, community yard sales in Clalifornia or massive one of a kind “garage sale of the millennium” (Miami Herald) in Florida. Got a garage that’s been bugging you due to years of collecting? Or haven’t seen your garage cuz you cant get in? Cesar is the garage guru for you. And he is available as he walks through your town, city or community. He will help organize, set up and handle an all day sale in exchange for a percentage of the profits that will benefit his voyage.

Cesar is also a Ebay Trading Assistant Consultant and Power Seller that has sold nearly a thousand items on ebay with nearly a thousand positive comments from happy buyers across the globe. Some of those household items or collectibles can fetch quite a bit on Ebay. Becerra will help you list them, sell them and in exchange will earn a small percentage for his efforts. Likewise schools that would like to support Cesar’s hike can organize a school and Diabetes hike fundraiser by having each student bring an item to sell on Ebay. Those items will be photographed digitally with images sent to Cesar’s Ebay assistant Ana Fernandez at their Ebay Warehouse in Los Angeles California and will then be listed and sold on line. A percentage split will then be given to the school and to Cesar’s journey.

Q. How can my school group follow Cesar’s journey?
A. Becerra will be writing a separate e-mail journal geared strictly to elementary school age kids. E-mail Cesar at cesarbecerra@hotmail.com to get on that list.

Under 18? Submit your films!