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California-Florida Run Is Local Man's Gift To Children

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 17, 2008

Updated: 03/16/2008 09:55 pm

East of Apache Junction, Ariz., on Tuesday, amid the mountains and cactuses, Tom Bassano slowed to a walk to rest his swollen ankles.

"I'm only going to put in about 30 miles today," he said. "Every step feels like somebody's hitting me with a billy club."

Bassano, 37, has been a runner for years but this month undertook a unique challenge. He is running from California to Florida to raise money for child advocacy centers, including Jessie's Place in Citrus County, named in honor of Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford, the 9-year-old Homosassa girl slain in 2005.

Since March 2, the propane technician and photographer from Palm Harbor has run about 380 miles for the fundraiser. He said via cell phone he now feels the strain.

"In the first three days, it was a piece of cake," he said. "Now, it's the hardest thing I've ever done."

Bassano's wife, Kimberley, and children -- daughters Nicole, 12, and Paige, 9, and his son, Tavi, 7 -- are his support team. The children are home schooled and are studying on the road.

"They're certainly learning a lot of geography," Bassano said with a chuckle.

Bassano moved to Florida in high school and ran track as a senior at Dunedin High School. According to his Web site, his mile record there was 4 minutes, 5 seconds.

He wanted to run for charity in the past but didn't find a cause that spoke to him until now. To have a child kidnapped and killed, he said, is "everybody's worst fear."

Bassano said he had a "hands-on feeling" about such an experience not long ago when visiting Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin with his family. As they packed up the beach gear, his son, who is autistic, lost his bearings and got separated.

"My first thought is, somebody's taken my son," Bassano said. "We had to get a park ranger, and they did find him. But that whole time, I thought, my life is completely changed. Everything is gone. ... I don't think there is a parent in the world who wants to outlive their children."

Bassano said he has received some angry e-mail messages about his trek via his MySpace page and his Web site, www.runfortheinnocent .com, because of the involvement of Mark Lunsford, Jessica's father. Lunsford joined the Bassano family at Bartels' Harley-Davidson in Marina Del Ray, Calif., on March 2 for the fundraiser's kickoff.

John Couey, a sex offender who lived near the Lunsfords, was convicted in Jessica's death. So far, thanks in part of Lunsford's advocacy, 34 states have passed versions of the Jessica Lunsford Act, which strengthens punishments for sex offenders.

Last month, Lunsford announced he might sue the Citrus County Sheriff's Office over how the agency investigated his daughter's disappearance, causing mixed emotions throughout the Bay area.

Huffing his way across the southwest Tuesday, Bassano said Lunsford is helping him process the donations through the Jessica Lunsford Foundation, which is a nonprofit agency. However, the money goes into a separate account for Run for the Innocent. (Donors must note "Run for the Innocent" on the memo part of their checks; donations collected on Bassano's Web site are marked for the account automatically, he said.)

Bassano estimates he has collected $5,000 so far.

He anticipates his journey will last at least four weeks, paid for with accrued vacation and personal time, as well as his income tax refund. In addition, the trip has acquired sponsors and spontaneous donors, such as local businesses offering water and motel accommodations, he said.

After California and Arizona, Bassano plans to run through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama before he returns to Florida. After trekking through the Panhandle, he will stop in Daytona Beach, then celebrate his return in Citrus County.

It's physically demanding but unforgettable, Bassano said.

"I've just seen things I didn't know existed in this country," he said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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