Brennan Besser Launches “Walk On America” to Support the IDD Community
Brennan Besser, a Duke men’s basketball rising senior, will bike, walk and run across the United States this summer to raise awareness and donations for the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community. Besser has launched the Walk On America Foundation to support charities that help the IDD community.
Besser will bike, run and walk from Seattle to New York City this summer to raise donations and awareness of the IDD community. Besser is personally connected to the cause as his older sister, Jacqueline, has significantly impaired motor skills and is a daily inspiration to him and the Besser family. Besser’s trek across the United States begins May 16 in Seattle. The trek is estimated to take approximately 69 days and cover more than 3,400 miles.
Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski: “Brennan has contributed in so many ways to our program, whether it be in preparation, spirit, or work-ethic — he’s a one-of-a-kind walk-on. I love him, and the spirit he brings is infectious on this team. Nothing he does surprises me, because almost everything he does is not about him. It’s about his talents, his emotion and his effort to help others. This is a terrific thing that he’s doing this summer and he’ll accomplish so much for so many people.”
Brennan Besser: “I’m passionate about raising awareness for the IDD community because I’ve seen Jacqueline struggle and thrive throughout her life. Yet she hasn’t done this alone and I wanted to start Walk On America as a way to give back to the tireless nonprofits that support this underserved community that often times cannot speak for themselves.”
