Man canoeing 2,400 miles down Mississippi River expected to be in Vicksburg on Tuesday

Peter Frank of Escanaba, Michigan, is undergoing a 2,400-mile journey down the Mississippi River to raise money for the Steve Mariucci Family Beacon House and will be in Vicksburg on Tuesday.

The Beacon House serves as a place for patients and families who travel to seek care at UP Health System-Marquette and the Upper Peninsula Medical Care Center. The Beacon House is regarded as a “home away from home” for travelers and allows them to stay close to a loved one without having to worry about having to pay for lodging.

When Frank was 14 years old a car ran over him, broke 14 bones and landed him in the hospital.

“The first week, my family did not know if I would make it,” Frank wrote. “My dad would come into my room every morning around 3 to 4 a.m. until my mom woke up and then they would switch places.”

Frank had a lot of challenges facing him during his recovery. Among those were having to relearn how to swallow, walk and had to be placed on a ventilator.

A large part of his recovery he attributes to the ability of his family to be beside him and the Beacon House for opening its doors to his family.

“Beacon House told my parents they can stay as long as they needed,” Frank wrote. “The feelings of relief my parents had were because of donors.”

After recovering, Frank wished to help repay Beacon House and help keep their doors open for other families in similar situations. In 2021, Frank set out on a mission to raise money for the Beacon House by riding a unicycle from Wisconsin to Arizona. The effort raised tens of thousands for the nonprofit but fell short of meeting the $100,000 goal.

This year, Frank undertook a 2,400-mile journey down the Mississippi in hopes to raise more funds. His adventure has recently landed him in Natchez where local resident Jimmy Allgood has offered lodging to the traveler and is encouraging citizens of Vicksburg to do the same.

Frank is expected to be in Vicksburg Tuesday evening.

You can follow frank on his journey by visiting whereispeterfrank.com.