Sauter's mild Cerebral Palsy effects only his legs, causing tightness in his calves and his ankles to turn in when he walks. He said he has had to do a lot of stretches and exercises to strengthen his legs and his actual height is about 5 feet 8 inches tall. Despite any difficulty, on October 28, 2007, he completed the Grand Rapids Marathon on stilts in record time and raised $2,400 for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan. He did this using standard dry wall stilts.

The Blissfield, Mich. resident plans to take two months to complete an 830-mile stilt walk across Michigan, and use the money he raises to purchase electric wheelchairs and ramps for those with Cerebral Palsy.

His journey began May 5 in Lambertville, Mich. (near Toledo, Ohio) and will end in the Upper Peninsula's Ironwood area around the end of this month.

While walking, Sauter visits schools, organizations and churches, using interactive story telling to advocate for people with disabilities and encourage children to become active leaders in their communities. Sauter visited Lakeland Elementary School in Elk Rapids May 30, ducking under the doorframes as he went to give his presentation in the gym. Fueled by a night's rest, Sauer had already walked around 370 miles at this point in his journey. He rested at The Chalfonte House in Elk Rapids May 29.

Sauter marveled students by juggling on stilts, performing magic and making balloon animals, but his main message was for students to give respect to those with disabilities. He encouraged them to never give up and to keep trying when they were met with their own challenges. Sauter used an example of a recent challenge: the Earth's elements. Sometimes he has had to walk when it's windy or rainy.

"It's hard work and I get tired, but I keep trying," Sauter said.

A student asked if he had ever fallen off the stilts. Sauter said he had fallen six times on this journey alone and about 15 times since he began stilt walking last summer.

Another student asked if he could sit on anything to rest when he is wearing stilts. Sauter suggested that he could sit on ice machines at gas stations or maybe even cars.

Sauter was previously an adjunct professor at Jackson Community College, where he taught psychology and he has also worked at the Hope Center, a day center for people with disabilities. He plans to attend Michigan State University in the fall to obtain a Master's Degree in Natural Resources Management and hopes to work as an environmental educator in the future.

Sauter is currently engaged and plans to marry in the fall. To find out more about Sauter's journey or to direct funds, visit his Web site www.stiltstory.org.

Megan Taylor can be reached for question or comment at mtaylor@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-264-9711.