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Scott Giddings arrives to a crowd of nearly 200 cheering students and co-workers at the historic village of Boys Town, just 10 miles from completing his Landmark Run across the state of Nebraska.
Click here to view a slideshow of Gidding’s homecoming.
Click here to read Giddings’ Landmark Run blog and view photos of his journey.
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Mission Accomplished
Giddings Completes Landmark Run for Boys Town Children
With tears streaking down his face, Scott Giddings raced ahead of the Boys Town police cruiser and towards the outstretched hands of Boys Town children cheering his accomplishment.
He was almost there.
After six months and nearly 500 miles of rolling Nebraska terrain, Giddings’ Landmark Run benefiting the children who were now chanting his name was nearly complete. Nearly 200 students, co-workers and admirers lined the entrance to Father Flanagan’s famous village to greet him as he began the home stretch.
“I simply could not contain myself. I cried and laughed and was just HAPPY,” said an emotional Giddings. “I was especially thrilled to see so many of the students lining the street, after all, this run was as much for them as it was for me.”
His mission started April 19 with a goal of crossing the state in 15 days. Along the way he hoped to meet many of the people in his home state and share the news about what Boys Town does for hurting children. That effort unexpectedly stalled 232 miles into his journey, when Giddings developed a serious leg injury, forcing him to stop.
At that time, he told Boys Town children, staff and supporters, “I am not quitting, of that you can be sure.”
“First and foremost I made that promise to myself, then my kids, Boys Town, and most importantly the kids of Boys Town whom this was for in the first place,” said the 38-year-old Boys Town network engineer. “I would have had a heck of a time knowing I had made a promise and not followed through on it.
On Oct. 29, surrounded by the children he hoped to inspire, Giddings made good on that promise. He led the pack through the streets of Boys Town to the Home’s historic national landmark pylon – one of two national landmarks he would pass during his run across the state: Chimney Rock in the west, the Boys Town Pylon in the east. As he reached out his hands to touch the stacked stones, emotions overwhelmed him.
“I’m so very grateful to be here, and to have you here to share this with me,” said Giddings to his supporters. “It is a moment that will be etched in my memory.”
But the journey was not complete. There were still ten miles to go. After a small ceremony with the children, and lunch with Father Steve Boes, Boys Town National Executive Director, and a group of friends and co-workers who helped him on the way, he was back on the road. He spent the next couple of hours winding his way through the city and reflecting on his journey before finally reaching the river and Omaha’s Lewis and Clark Landing.
 “Unlike the arrival at Boys Town, the finish was just me, a photographer... and the river,” said Giddings. “It felt good to take a breath, look to the north and south, and realize that I had reached my destination.”
Dipping his shoe in the Missouri River, his mission was complete but his dream was unending. While the Landmark Run has come to an end, Giddings’ dreams are just beginning to grow – for himself and for the children he is helping to find hope.
“Words cannot express how blessed I’ve been to do this on their behalf,” said Giddings. “I hope I have inspired them to keep their feet moving forward, chin up and their eyes on the prize in all that they do.”
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