Former Marine honors comrade with cross-country charity ride for kids


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SALT LAKE CITY — Former U.S. Marine Sergeant Jay Knight is on a cross-country quest to honor a fallen comrade and raise money to help sick children in dozens of communities.

He's riding his bike coast-to-coast and is in Salt Lake City for a couple of days.

"It was something that had to be done," Knight said during a visit Monday at Shriners Hospital for Children in Salt Lake.

Knight said he knew a few years ago he had to do something to honor fellow Marine Lance Cpl. Johnny Strong of Waco, Texas. Knight served two tours of duty in Iraq with Strong, who was the driver for Knight's team. He said they developed a strong bond.

"He made sure to take care of his job and help others get their stuff done," Knight said.

Knight led the security patrol around their base in 2007 when Strong was killed.

"As we crossed an open area, he was shot by a sniper," Knight said.

The former sergeant gets emotional when he talks about his former fellow Marine.

"We took care of him until we had to give him to another unit to be taken home," Knight said, wiping away tears.

How you can help
"We've gotten a lot of questions about how people can donate and how those donations are being used. We've got an entire page dedicated to explaining everything you'll want to know." Visit pax2pax.org/get-involved/donations for more information*. -Pax2Pax website

Knight carries Strong's military photo with him on his bicycle. That's his inspiration as he brings smiles to kids at children's hospitals here in Salt Lake and across the country.

Strong loved video games and wanted to be a video game programmer. So when Knight decided to honor Strong with a fundraising ride, he teamed up with Child's Play, a gaming industry charity that gives games and toys to children in a worldwide network of hospitals.

Shriners Hospital for Children in Salt Lake is a beneficiary of Child's Play Foundation. The video games and technology they receive will help kids with sensory, communication and mobility disorders.

Knight's ride is called Pax2Pax. He is cycling from a PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) gaming festival in Boston to one on the West Coast within a 142-day timeframe. He's pedaled about 3,000 of the 4,400 miles so far, and he's visited 21 of his scheduled 24 hospitals.

"I haven't walked out of a children's hospital without a tear in my eye," Knight said. "It's awe-inspiring."

Knight is also amazed at the generosity of strangers. He and his cycling partner rarely have to pay for a hotel, he said, because people have welcomed them into their homes for good meals and a night's rest.

Knight plans to get back on the road Thursday. His next stop will be in Boise, Idaho, at St. Luke's Hospital. He cycles about 50 miles a day, so it will take him about seven days to get there.


*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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Jed Boal

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