ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – An 81-year-old woman finished a nearly 3,000-mile walk across the United States on Saturday, completing a journey from San Diego to St. Augustine that supporters called historic.
Dr. Judy Benjamin, an Alzheimer’s patient and survivor, completed roughly 2,800 miles on foot and was greeted by friends and family as she crossed the finish line.
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“I never for a moment thought I wouldn’t make it,” Benjamin said.
Thirteen years after her diagnosis, Benjamin said she had at times lost hope, especially after watching her mother battle Alzheimer’s for 20 years. But she said she “changed everything” — her diet, exercise routine and medical care — after consulting specialists.
“I developed an incredible peace about my life, acceptance about myself and the people in it,” she said.
Benjamin was treated by Dr. Dale Bredesen of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, who initially urged caution when he heard her plan for a cross-country walk.
“Judy, you’re 80 years old now. You were first treated when you were 67, you’ve done great for 13 years, but why don’t you just relax a little,” he recalled telling her.
Bredesen, who came to St. Augustine to witness her finish, said he was impressed by her accomplishment and its broader implications.
“I’m really impressed with what she’s done, and she’s bringing hope to a lot of people. She’s showing people that there is something to be done about cognitive decline, and please don’t wait,” he said.
Benjamin began the trek with her toes in the Pacific and ended it by dipping them into the Atlantic, a symbolic completion of her west-to-east journey. Along the way, family and friends cheered her on.