ELLSWORTH — After about 13 miles, over four hours and roughly 28,000 steps, Mark Stoesz and Tim Conway completed their journey of walking from Ellsworth to River Falls High School that started at about 2:50 a.m. May 30.

Through it all, the journey was never about them, but instead to raise awareness for an Ellsworth native’s medical journey.

Wyatt Nelson, a 20-year-old Ellsworth graduate and current attendee of University of Minnesota Duluth,  underwent surgery May 23 to remove cancer in his mouth and neck. According to the family’s CaringBridge site, the surgery went well, and Nelson was given an A+ grade from the doctors.

Former Ellsworth High School Principal and current River Falls High School Interim Assistant Principal Stoesz was looking for a way to help raise money for the family’s GoFundMe page and former Ellsworth Middle School Principal Conway joined him. The two departed at 2:50 a.m., with the goal of helping any way they could. For community members to show their support, the two suggested a $13 donation for the 13 miles walked, a $28 donation for the 28,000 steps or a $41 donation for the combination of both.

The GoFundMe to support the medical expenses and travel/lost work for the family has raised $33,040 of the $35,000 goal as of May 31.

“Wyatt and his family, they’re just great people,” Stoesz said. “Obviously you want to do things to help and support them.”

Stoesz said during his last 10 years at Ellsworth he walked to the school every day and he thought it would be a good idea to make the walk to River Falls High School before the school year comes to a close.

Stoesz said his family became family friends with the Nelson family, and Stoesz got to know the family well during his time at Ellsworth High School.

“What it meant to us is just trying to offer our support to Wyatt and the struggles that he’s going through right now,” Stoesz said. “So he knows that there’s a lot of people that care about him and that are thinking about him.”

The GoFundMe page for Wyatt and the Nelson family can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-nelson-familys-medical-journey and medical updates can be found on the family’s CaringBridge site.

Arriving at River Falls High School at 6:58 a.m., Stoesz reflected on the impact the community can have on each other.

“To me it’s just about us pitching in,” Stoesz said. “In small towns that’s what we do. We help each other when people need help.”