close
close

Son’s tragedy inspires fundraising walk

Posted on by angelo
Son’s tragedy inspires fundraising walk

ON A MISSION — Dan Burchfield on the pedestrian bridge named in memory of his son, Joel, on June 27 in Moorpark. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn NewspapersON A MISSION — Dan Burchfield on the pedestrian bridge named in memory of his son, Joel, on June 27 in Moorpark. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

ON A MISSION — Dan Burchfield on the pedestrian bridge named in memory of his son, Joel, on June 27 in Moorpark. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

When Dan Burchfield begins his 135-mile walk from Santa Barbara to San Pedro, it will be — like everything he does — because of Joel. He’s walking for his son who can’t walk, and for other young people in Moorpark who have the future his son didn’t have.

The 10th annual Joel Burchfield Spirit Walk, which raises money for the Joel Burchfield scholarship, begins Thursday, July 11 and ends eight days later.

“I’m on this journey for my son, and it’s exhausting, for sure,” said Burchfield, a former teacher and baseball coach at Moorpark High School. “But he inspired me to become a teacher and he inspires other kids to earn this scholarship … It really warms my heart to know his name is still there.”

Joel was 11 years old when he drowned in the flooded Arroyo Simi Creek on January 31, 1996, while walking home from Chaparral Middle School.

The Moorpark community, which spent hours searching for the boy during the storm, donated nearly $10,000 to the family after the tragedy. The father used the money to create the Joel Burchfield Memorial Fund three years later. The nonprofit provides area children and teens with money to attend college and play sports.

COASTAL HIKE — Dan Burchfield's fundraising walk to honor his son, Joel, who died at age 11, will take him 135 miles along the California coast, starting in Santa Barbara and ending in San Pedro.COASTAL HIKE — Dan Burchfield's fundraising walk to honor his son, Joel, who died at age 11, will take him 135 miles along the California coast, starting in Santa Barbara and ending in San Pedro.

COASTAL HIKE — Dan Burchfield’s fundraising walk to honor his son, Joel, who died at age 11, will take him 135 miles along the California coast, starting in Santa Barbara and ending in San Pedro.

“Joel didn’t get the chance to live his life, so I want to tell them, ‘You have this opportunity to have no regrets, so go ahead and do what you want to do,’” Burchfield said. “I want to instill in them the quality that Joel did: never back down and fearlessly pursue your goals.”

By 2014, the fund was down to $400. A former student who knew Burchfield enjoyed walking encouraged him to organize a fundraising walk the following year, and it was a success.

Through the Spiritual Walk, the fund has provided a total of $70,000 in scholarships, $30,000 of which was awarded last month.

TJ Foreman and Gerardo Sandoval Jr. both received the Burchfield Scholarship in 2017 when they graduated from Moorpark High. Knowing that their baseball coach and history and drama teacher believed in them was all they needed to believe in themselves.

TRIBUTE — Dan Burchfield sits next to the poem he wrote in memory of his son, Joel, on the pedestrian bridge over the Arroyo Simi in Moorpark. MICHAEL COONS Acorn NewspapersTRIBUTE — Dan Burchfield sits next to the poem he wrote in memory of his son, Joel, on the pedestrian bridge over the Arroyo Simi in Moorpark. MICHAEL COONS Acorn Newspapers

TRIBUTE — Dan Burchfield sits next to the poem he wrote in memory of his son, Joel, on the pedestrian bridge over the Arroyo Simi in Moorpark. MICHAEL COONS Acorn Newspapers

Foreman, a substitute teacher and baseball coach at Camarillo High School, graduates to become a full-time history teacher.

“Without the fund and Dan, I wouldn’t be in the profession I’m in today,” he said. “I discovered what I’m truly passionate about: the same goal that Dan has, which is to inspire kids to develop habits, follow their dreams and become better people.”

Sandoval teaches physical education at Fillmore Middle School and coaches baseball at Fillmore High School.

“Being near Burchfield and receiving the scholarship inspired me to become an educator because I wanted to make a difference, just like he did,” he said. “And to keep Joel’s spirit alive, I think, is pretty special.”

The men have participated in the spiritual walk several times and appreciate the quality time spent with their mentor, from whom they share their accomplishments and seek advice.

Burchfield said these conversations distract him from the pain in his feet and prove to be the most rewarding aspect of his walks. And while he still feels his son’s presence, he also believes it’s important to reflect on his thoughts in solitude. He revisits favorite memories with Joel and remembers the steps he took to move forward after the unthinkable.

Memories are particularly vivid in Torrance, where he and Joel spent the early years of their lives.

“I’m walking past the house where he was born. I’m walking through memories. I’m walking past the old house where I grew up,” the 68-year-old said.

When Burchfield completes his spiritual walk, he hopes to have honored Joel’s memory and moved closer to raising $25,000 for next summer’s scholarships.

“It’s both sadness and a sense of reward,” he said of his arrival in San Pedro. “It’s a loss, but I feel satisfied.”

To learn more about Dan Burchfield and the Joel Burchfield Spirit Walk 2024, visit myjourneywithjoel.com.