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Twin brothers set to walk from Shreveport to Center highlighting needs of foster children
By Marlo Lacen,
2024-06-21
SHREVEPORT, La. ( KTAL/KMSS )—Two brothers will end a year-long journey they embarked on to highlight the need for love and compassion for hundreds of thousands of children living in the foster care system.
Davon and Tavon Woods are 28-year-old twins born in South Carolina.
Their mission was inspired by another person’s walk across the United States who raised awareness for mental health. They decided to do the same to honor Foster Care Awareness Month, and in May 2022, they did just that.
“Davon was like, oh man, we should do a walk from Georgia – Statesboro, Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida.”
The brothers admit they did not train before taking off on the 164.4-mile walk, which, according to Google Maps, takes 59 hours on foot.
“We didn’t know what we was doing, we just stepped out on faith and in the midst of that, we go so much love and support,” Tavon said.
That love and support pushed the Woods brothers to expand their self-imposed challenge from the I-95 corridor to the entire nation. In the 13 months since they started, they have walked through 23 of 50 states.
Possum Trot tells the story of Pastor W.C. Martin and his wife Donna, who famously challenged church members to open their homes and hearts by taking in 77 of the most difficult-to-place children. 22 families answered the call.
The Woods brothers will walk the final steps of their journey from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Center, Texas. The trip is less than 100 miles, but walking through piney woods and sweltering southern heat will take more than a day.
The brothers were taken from their parents at birth, placed into foster care, and adopted at the age of two.
While most people would think their adoption makes this a happy ending. The brothers talk about the longing they felt watching their peers interact with their biological parents and having no sense of family history or knowledge.
In the following years, they dedicated their lives to sharing their experiences in the foster care system. Becoming self-appointed ambassadors of best practices for foster and adoptive parents and the children they bring into their homes.
Their mission is to inspire young boys and girls and give voice to the voiceless. Besides walking, the twins express some of their experiences in the system through their music. They rap heartwrenching tales of the lives of millions of voiceless and abused children who suffer and are not allowed to offer solutions or opinions about where they will end up. Or those who feel disconnected from adoptive families and are cut off from learning anything about their families until adulthood.
“There’s so much that kids in foster care go through. Whether it’s foster care or adoption, some may have gotten mistreated, and a lot don’t speak up. So that’s all we really wanted to do. Just share our story and hope to inspire kids all over the world,” said Davon.
No global mission of good works happens without sacrifice. The Woods brothers quit their jobs to embark on what they believe is their life’s work.
“God opened the doors for us to do everything ourselves. So that has been a blessing, and we want it to continue to be that way.”
Tavon and Davon say they are strengthened daily by their faith in God’s promise to care for them if they keep going. The brothers say faith kept them safe in the system and on these hikes, where they push themselves to walk at least 60 miles daily.
Suppose you want to wish the Woods brothers well or show your support for their mission of highlighting the need for critical change within the foster care system—the walk from Louisiana to Texas at starts at Government Plaza on Saturday, June 26, at 10 a.m.
The brothers chronicle their days on various social media sites, including their Twin Gangg YouTube Vlog.
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