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By PAMELA BRUST

pbrust@newsandsentinel.com

PARKERSBURG "There are over two million kids right in the United States experiencing homelessness, and tonight, 13 of them will die," Tellman Knudson told Wood County commissioners Thursday.

Knudson has undertaken a cross country barefoot run to raise awareness and money for charities serving homeless youth. Knudson talked with the commissioners about his mission and joined Miss West Virginia USA Erica Jade Goldsmith of Mineral Wells, who also took off her shoes, braving freezing temperatures and snow to accompany Tallman on a run from the courthouse around downtown Thursday.

The barefoot philanthropist said he started his run from Battery Park in New York City to Los Angeles, Calif., more than 3,200 miles gathering support, learning about local organizations and groups that serve the homeless, raising awareness and so far raising more then $300,000 toward his goal of $100 million for homeless youth charities.

Tellman's entourage recently met Commissioner Blair Couch who invited them to attend the meeting Thursday to talk about the mission.

"As far as we know I'm the first person to ever attempt this. So far, we've set the record for the longest barefoot run in history," Knudson said. "We are working with various outreach and nonprofit shelters who serve the homeless, working closely with Covenant House, which is a major beneficiary of RunTellmanRun," he said.

Knudson said many youth find themselves homeless either because of the loss of their parents and no other family support, or from fleeing their homes due to substance abuse, sexual abuse or other problems at home. "It's such a bad situation that they left and ended up on the streets," he said.

Founded in 1972, Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas helping homeless kids, providing crisis care and ongoing support at 21 facilities internationally.

When Mineral Wells native Erica Goldsmith, Miss West Virginia USA, heard through a trainer at her gym that Knudson was running barefoot across America for his charity, she offered to help.

Knudson is 556 miles into his 3,200-mile barefoot trek across the country. He and Goldsmith ran about a mile barefoot Thursday, braving very cold conditions.

Knudson said it's surprising, but circulation keeps his feet from getting too cold, but he recently was advised to rest for a few days before he begins to build back up the number of hours he runs a day. He expects to be in Wood County for a few days.

"She's such a great sport to run through Parkersburg with me," Knudson said of Goldsmith's support.. "I'm not pretty enough to get the attention that youth homelessness deserves. She's going to be a huge help."

"As soon as I heard about this crazy guy running across the country, I thought, 'Of course I want to be a part of this!'" said Goldsmith. "It's a wonderful charity, and I'm happy to lend a hand."

Goldsmith, 23, is the daughter of David and Malinda Goldsmith of Mineral Wells. She will represent West Virginia at the Miss USA Pageant April 18 in Las Vegas.

Knudson, 32, of Vermont is an Internet marketing entrepreneur. He began his journey on Sept. 9 heading west, running the equivalent of one marathon a day. He will finish on the pier in Santa Monica, Calif. He overcame femoral antiversion, a debilitating leg condition, to compete on his high school cross country team, setting several school records and competing for the New Hampshire state championship. Tellman learned to leverage his ADHD, a condition that hinders many, to his creative and financial benefit.