Deputy Walking 390 Miles Makes His Way into Land O' Lakes

David Drum walked toward Land O’ Lakes in the far right lane of U.S. 41 Sunday, followed closely by a Lee County Sheriff's Office patrol car.

He was in the midst of a heroic feat, but there were no media, no cheering crowds.

Just a quiet, humble procession as the Lee County Sheriff's Office sergeant completed day five of his walk/run from Ft. Myers to Tallahassee, raising money and awareness for the families of fallen officers nationwide.

Drum began his 390-mile Walk for the Fallen on Wednesday, April 25. By Sunday, he was ambling north through Lutz toward Land O’ Lakes.  He's kept up a wicked pace, completing roughly a marathon per day so far.

His goal is to arrive in Tallahassee by May 4, to attend the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police memorial for fallen officers on May 6 and 7, the Naples News reported.

For the first time in 16 years, 2011 saw more officers killed by gunfire than vehicle crashes, Drum wrote on the Walk for the Fallen website.

A total of 173 officers were killed in the line of duty last year, leaving behind 265 children, Drum wrote.

Drum is walking to raise money “to provide these shattered families with the help that they will need,” he said.

His goal: $100 per mile, for a total of $39,000, which will benefit Concerns Of Police Survivors.  Late Sunday, Drum was less than $1,000 from hitting his mark.

“I’m not naive enough to think that this will be a small task, as I believe that run to Tallahassee will push me beyond where I think my limits are both physically and emotionally,” Drum wrote. “Whatever pain and discomfort I feel in my training is nothing compared to the pain that these families feel when they get a late night call telling them that their husband, wife, father, mother, son or daughter will not be coming home.”

Though he looked a bit weary late Sunday afternoon, Drum seemed to be in good spirits.

How was he feeling?

“A little sore, and little tired,” he grinned, and walked on.

Look for Drum Monday as he continues his way north through the Land O' Lakes area.

"David will continue up U.S. 41 until it intersects with Hwy 52. He will head west on 52, then north on Co Rd 1/Little Road until it meets U.S. 19 and then he will take 19 for many miles north," his wife Christi Drum said in an email.

Use caution if you see the slow-moving patrol car, he is walking just ahead of it.

Follow Drum’s progress in real time, make a donation, or leave a message on the Walk for the Fallen Facebook page.