Netherlands-based teenager walks to raise money for Filipino orphans

Posted at 4:58 pm August 27, 2010

Tags: Filipinos Abroad, Inspirational Stories

SHARE YOUR STORIES

Got a similar Story? Share it here

See list of businesses related to Filipinos Abroad

See list of businesses related to Inspirational Stories

By Anna Valmero

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS — He was still a child when he was diagnosed with multiple complex developmental disorder, a form of autism. But that did not stop 12-year-old Kyle Baleva to join a walkathon for four consecutive days last July and raise money for orphaned children in the Philippines.

Kyle raised 1,500 euros after walking 30 kilometers a day during the Nijmegen International Four-Day Marches. More than 40,000 people, including Kyle, joined what was touted as the biggest hiking event in the world.

“I heard on the news about a big walking event and that seemed like fun. I remembered that I could raise funds for something while I’m at it. And children back in the Philippines, who are orphaned because of extrajudicial killings and disappearances, have a hard time so I chose to raise funds for them,” Kyle says, responding to questions sent by loQal.ph via email.

“Walking is the only physical activity I’m good at, so it was fun. The most enjoyable part was the last part of the third day when I saw the landscape with hills, farms and pine trees which are just beautiful,” adds Kyle, an incoming sophomore high school at Utrecht Stedelijk Gymnasium.

Kyle also received the royal decoration of the Vierdaagsekruis for finishing the walkathon. Vierdaagsekruis is the common name for the “Kruis voor betoonde marsvaardigheid”, or literally “cross for demonstrating marching proficiency”, established in October 1909 by Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands.

Granted previously to infantry soldiers below the officer rank, it is now awarded to anyone who successfully completes the four-day march.

Awarded by a non-government organization, the Royal Dutch League for Physical Education, the Cross is an official decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and worn in uniform by the Dutch armed forces and uniformed services, as well as by military services of Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the USA.

Kyle’s father, Boyen Baleva, recalls that his teenage son set off at 7:30a.m. on the fourth day and finished at 2p.m., some three hours before the last kid crossed the finish line.

But Tatay Boyen points out the Nijmegen International Four-Day Marches is not big on who crosses the finish line first.

“Finishing your daily distance of 30km, 40km or 50km in four consecutive days is the achievement. For participants under 18 like Kyle, that means walking 30km per day for four consecutive days.”

“But we did try to set a fast pace – not more than ten minutes per kilometer – so that we can finish before the afternoon heat becomes unbearable. That meant walking past a lot of other hikers, but not really trying to ‘out-walk’ everybody, the older Baleva adds.

For the money he earned on his second year of joining the walkathon, Kyle says he intends to donate all money to nonprofit Children’s Rehabilitation Center’s “A Hand for an Orphan” project. During the four-day walk, he says he only felt joint pains after a day’s walk.

For Kyle, the most challenging part of the walkathon was on the second day when he thought he had stressed joints.

“But I don’t remember that I wanted to give up at any time during the walk. In contrast, last year, I almost gave up every day! My motivation is just that I need to do it because I promised to raise money for the orphans.”

His father, Boyen, believes the physical task of walking was the easy part— it was the psychological and mental challenge to finish the task which was most daunting for Kyle.

“Kyle’s particular condition presents both limitations as well as advantages. Aside from the fact that he loves to walk, a great advantage is that when he sets his mind to a certain goal, say walking 10 km in two hours, he can concentrate on the task until its completion. And the achievement of that goal gives him fulfillment and self-confidence,” the proud father says.

Being with a very busy crowd like the visitors and well-wishers during the walkathon, however, makes it difficult for Kyle due to the flood of sensory stimuli that causes him to panic.

“So I trained him too about dealing with the great crowds, especially before the finish line. I repeatedly told him: it’s not over until you see the FINISH banner.”

Last year, during his child’s first walkathon, Boyen shares that Kyle would get frustrated into thinking that after the end of the first three days, he already reached the finish line but he would have to walk the next day again.

“This sapped his energy to no end and he would only calm down once we reach our foster home, away from the crowds.”

For this year’s event, Kyle only had trouble on the fourth day, the most attended part of the event, according to his father.

“He needed a couple of rests five kilometers before the finish line. I managed to distract him from the crowds by exchanging stories about school, vacation destinations and food— good enough to keep him on the ball until we crossed the finish line!”

Kyle became aware of orphaned children whose parents has been abducted, jailed or killed for alleged connections to rebels, because he was like them.

His father, Boyen Baleva was abducted by the 17th Infantry Battalion in 2001 for alleged sympathies with armed rebels. Two years later, Boyen and his family moved to The Netherlands as a political refugee.

Three children are orphaned each day, Boyen remembers telling Kyle.

Kyle is updated on current events in the Philippines as he would always watch news on TV and Internet. He symphatizes with children whose parents were abducted or killed and so he wanted to help them, knowing he is more fortunate, his father says.

The Balevas don’t see returning to the Philippines in the near future but said they will continue to do their part to continue their advocacy for fellow Filipinos despite the fact they live in a foreign country. Boyen says he will continue to train and walk with Kyle.

“What I want to do is for other kids to join Kyle for the walk and let them help each other; if not, I will still accompany Kyle… It might not happen overnight, but social change id moving forward. The little thing that I can do will hopefully help it forward.”

Kyle added that the biggest lesson he learned during the 12 weeks of preparation and during the walkathon is this: “Making the best out of things will help you endure anything.”

For donations to Kyle’s Walk of the World, email kyleswalk@filipinochildren.net.

(Photos courtesy of Boyen Baleva)