This article originally provided by WOAY TV

September 13, 2006

Grandfather nears end of his trek to Washington

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The grandpa who decided to walk 455 miles to Washington, D-C to combat coal pollution near a local school is just a few miles away from his goal.

Ed Wiley plans to arrive in D-C Wednesday and wants to meet with U-S Senator Robert C- Byrd. While he's in the nation's capital, Wiley plans to ask for a new school for Marsh Fork Elementary school children.

The current school is located near the Raleigh County community of Sundial, and Wiley says a variety of dangerous pollutants and chemicals used at a nearby coal plant threaten the health of the kids.

The estimated cost to build a new school is five million dollars.

Wiley is representing the campaign Pennies of Promise.