Five things about ... young philanthropist Zach Bonner

While some of us are content to lead our somewhat sedentary lifestyles, there's an 11-year-old boy out there walking hundreds of miles to rally support for homeless children in the United States.

He was a recent guest of Smith-Ganassi Racing's No. 42 team at Kentucky Speedway but had never even so much as watched a NASCAR event on television.

Now, the young philanthropist is hoping the trip to the track gained him some valuable exposure to will help raise funds for his long walk to the White House where he intends to discuss some domestic issues with the president.

Here is Five Things About Zach Bonner.

Where he's walking ...

Bonner, a Florida native, is walking 668 miles from Atlanta to the White House in Washington, D.C., not only for homeless children but for youth volunteerism in America.

During last week's Nationwide Series event, the Meijer 300, the No. 42 car and Kenny Hendrick ran Bonner's logo on the hood.

"This was a side trip and we were able to take some time off from the walk. I've been in and around the garage meeting drivers and they seem to think what I'm doing is pretty cool. After the race we'll head back to North Carolina and continue walking."

• Foundation Web site
• Follow the Walk to D.C.

Accommodations ...

While in Sparta, Ky., near the track, Bonner and his mother and sister stayed in a hotel but while logging miles for their charity walk they typically stay in their donated RV. It's a much-needed convenience for this sixth grader who records at least 11 miles a day.

"We walk early in the morning when it's not so hot. My sister drives ahead in a car a few miles and I walk to the car. We do this all day, stop for lunch, get back on the road and so on."

What if he gets tired?

"I did get tired the first five days [he started May 11 and will end July 9], those first days were the worst but either your legs get numb or you just get used to it. But the first five days in Atlanta were physically the hardest; your body just isn't used to that much exercise and you want to quit. But the kids that are homeless, they don't get to quit being homeless when they are tired of being homeless."

Motivating factor ...

Bonner doesn't have a friend that's homeless nor has he ever been affected by homelessness in his community, yet for him, helping to eradicate the problem is the equivalent of the average boy shooting hoops or playing baseball.

"A lot of kids like soccer, basketball, baseball," he said. "This is my fun and what I like to do. I still get to play with friends, but this is my soccer and my basketball. I don't know, I'm not really sure why, it is just something I really enjoy doing."

The Little Red Wagon ...

In 2005, Bonner founded the Tampa-based Little Red Wagon Foundation and since then has become the basis of an inspiring, family movie being produced by Philanthropy Project, the script for which is being written by those who also wrote Courage Under Fire and Mr. Holland's Opus.

"The foundation started with Hurricane Charlie. I collected donations from people; water, baby formula and things like that for the victims. And I wanted to do other projects after that. My mom asked what I wanted to do and I said help homeless people and she suggested I help homeless children and that's what I decided. We help homeless children and underprivileged youth."

Excuse me, Mr. President ...

At the conclusion of his walk, Bonner intends to have a conversation with President Barack Obama.

"Kids from all across the country have been voicing their concerns about volunteerism through letters and I'm going to deliver those to the president. I also hope to talk to him about homeless youth because it is a cause that needs to be solved."

Bonner has collected numerous donations through his foundation's Web site, including a $25,000 gift from singer Elton John, but he is also being helped through sponsors and in donations.