Charitable football fan dies on 16,000km trip

A football fanatic trying to dribble a ball 16,000km from America to Brazil in time for the 2014 World Cup died after being hit by a pickup truck.

Police in Lincoln City, Oregon, in the north-western US said Richard Swanson, 42, was hit at about 10am local time while walking south along Highway 101 near the city limits. He was declared dead at a hospital. The driver has not been charged.

Lt Jerry Palmer said investigators found materials among Swanson’s belongings listing his website, breakawaybrazil.com.

Swanson set out on the trek to promote the One World Futbol Project, based in Berkeley, California, which donates durable blue footballs to people in developing countries.

“We are deeply saddened to learn about Richard’s death,” said Lisa Tarver, chief operating officer of One World Futbol Project.

“He was a very inspiring man who in a very short time walked his way into many lives. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Police said Mr Swanson’s ball was recovered.

Kristi Schwesinger, a Seattle interior designer and close friend of Mr Swanson’s, said the football fan had been a private investigator for many years, and switched to a new career as a graphic designer, but was laid off recently, and looking for an adventure.

“He was at a point in his life where he had raised his kids,” said Ms Schwesinger. “Both his boys [Devin and Raven] had graduated from high school. He had no mortgage. He had sold his condo recently and was between jobs.

“And he loved the game of soccer. He stumbled on this great organisation, One World Futbol, and decided this would be his passion the next year.”

In an interview with The Daily News in Longview, Washington state, Mr Swanson said he became a soccer fan just five years ago and played on club teams and supported the Seattle Sounders.

“I felt destined that I should go on this trip,” he told the newspaper.

His website said he left Seattle on May 1, and the trip would take him on foot for more than a year through 11 countries before reaching São Paolo, Brazil, where the World Cup finals will be held next year.

“It will be a trip of a lifetime, where I will push myself further than I ever thought possible,” he said.

Mr Swanson started out in flip-flops, and managed to spend 13 nights but switched to hiking sandals in Portland, Oregon, said Ms Schwesinger. He stayed two nights in Vancouver, Washington, with his son, Devin, but otherwise had been able to sleep on the couches of one stranger after another who befriended him and helped him on his journey.

“It was all by word of mouth, Facebook, media contacts, friends, and family who put the word out,” said Ms Schwesinger.

Mr Swanson spent Monday night in Lincoln City, where he was able to soak in a hot tub and eat a gourmet breakfast, before he set off for Newport, not knowing where he would stay, she added. He posted photos and stories about his new friends on a Facebook page chronicling his journey.

Friends are talking about creating a foundation in Mr Swanson’s memory, and sending his sons to Brazil for the World Cup, said Ms Schwesinger.

“The hardest thing is he was so young,” said Ms Schwesinger. “Just today we were planning his surprise birthday party for Sunday. He was so young, so full of life, so excited by the journey he was on. To be taken from us so soon is really heartbreaking.”