Tenderness Network at ShoutLife.com

The "Tenderness Tour" started with brokenness.

I was sitting in my wheelchair in front of the office of Prevent Child Abuse, Indiana on October 8, 1989. I was alone with $20 in my pocket, a backpack on my wheelchair and a few typed press releases designed to announce my intentions...I wanted to wheel...and wheel...and wheel in an effort to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect in Indiana. I didn't know if I could do anything, but I simply had to do something.

I was broken. I was nearly destitute myself. I was contemplating suicide. I was desperate for hope.

The "desperation" fueled that first "Tenderness Tour," in which I traveled the roads of Indiana alone in my wheelchair for 41-days and 1086 miles. What started out as skepticism from those around me, turned into a community of hope that surrounded me with enough love, enough hope, enough care and enough inspiration to keep going until my mission was done.

The only problem was...once finished, the mission had just begun.

I returned home that year and was a jumbled mess of emotions. The world as I had always known it, dark and hopeless, no longer existed. I had spent weeks surrounded by more love, hope and tenderness than I had ever experienced. This confusion would lead to one final suicide attempt...and then, to a lifelong vision to create a peaceful home for every child.

After wheelchair treks to Cincinnati, Lexington and Chicago, my life had changed dramatically. I was no longer living on disability. I was a college graduate, working full-time and surrounded, again, by hope and inspiration.

In 1996, the Tenderness Tour became more than just a one-man show and became a true community of hope.

Since the beginning in 1989, the "Tenderness Network" has served as a community of hope dedicated to creating a peaceful home for every child. We believe wholeheartedly in the power of one human being to change lives. We believe in doing small things with great love, as Mother Theresa once said. We are not activists, we are lovers.

We are a non-residential, intentional community of lovers and believers who embrace the challenge of creating a community of hope that offers a peaceful home for every child, indeed, every human being. We seek to build positive relationships with those whom we agree and those with whom we disagree. We seek to meet the needs of those around us who are hurting, lonely, hungry, desperate and seeking. When we are unable to physically meet those needs, we seek to love and provide assistance and support in whatever ways we can.

We break cycles of abuse and violence not by confrontation, but by compassion. We seek to heal, nurture, empower, educate, challenge, affirm, believe and, yes, love so that our communities become communities of hope, healing, safety, peace and celebration.

After 18 years, the road tours continue. However, the Tenderness Network is so much more now. Whether on the road or at home, you are invited to write us, join us, support us, seek support from us, volunteer, worship with us, pray with and/or for us or simply "be"...the choice is yours. However, from this point forward...whether you are surrounded by a community of hope or feeling desperately alone may you know that you are loved and never alone.

Peace,

Richard Propes
The Tenderness Network

VISIT THE TENDERNESS TOUR WEBSITE FOR THE FULL DETAILS!

The Tenderness Tour! 3,000 MILES AND STILL WHEELING...

10/9/89: Shelbyville, IN
10/10/89: Greensburg, IN
10/11/89: North Vernon, IN
10/12/89: Seymour, IN
10/13/89: Scottsburg, IN
10/14/89: Salem, IN
10/15/89: Paoli, IN
10/16/89: French Lick, IN
10/17/89: Jasper, IN
10/18/89: Huntingburg, IN
10/19/89: Evansville, IN
10/20/89: Princeton, IN
10/21/89: Vincennes, IN
10/22/89: Sullivan, IN
10/23/89: Linton, IN
10/24/89: Bloomington, IN
10/25/89: Spencer, IN
10/26/89: Terre Haute, IN
10/27/89: Clinton, IN
10/28/89: Rockville, IN
10/29/89: Crawfordsville, IN
10/30/89: West Lafayette, IN
10/31/89: Delphi, IN
11/1/89: Logansport, IN
11/2/89: Rochester, IN
11/3/89: Plymouth, IN
11/4/89: South Bend, IN
11/5/89: Mishawaka, IN
11/6/89: Elkhart, IN
11/7/89: Goshen, IN
11/8/89: Warsaw, IN
11/9/89: Columbia City, IN
11/10/89: Fort Wayne, IN
11/11/89: Huntington, IN
11/12/89: Wabash, IN
11/13/89: Marion, IN
11/14/89: Alexandria, IN
11/15/89: Anderson, IN
11/16/89: Noblesville, IN
11/17/89: Carmel, IN
11/18/89: Indianapolis, IN
1990: Follow-up throughout the year in Indiana
6/19/91: Lebanon, IN
6/20/91: Frankfort, IN
6/21/91: Flora, IN
6/22/91: Monticello, IN
6/23/91: Francesville, IN
6/24/91: Lacrosse, IN
6/25/91: Crown Point, IN
6/26/91: Gary, IN
6/27/91: East Chicago, IN
6/28/91 & 6/29/91: Chicago, IL
7/13/92: Greenfield, IN
7/14/92: Rushville, IN
7/15/92: Greensburg, IN
7/16/92: Versailles, IN
7/17/92: Lawrenceburg, IN
7/18/92: Cincinnati, OH
7/19/92: Indianapolis, IN
8/8/93: Indianapolis, IN
8/9/93: Greenwood, IN
8/10/93: Franklin, IN
8/11/93: Columbus, IN
8/12/93: Seymour, IN
8/13/93: Salem, IN
8/14/93: New Albany,IN
8/15/93: Louisville,KY
8/16/93: Shelbyville,KY
8/17/93: Frankfort, KY
8/18/93: Georgetown, KY
8/19/93: Lexington,KY
11/19/94: Indianapolis,IN
4/95: Indianapolis, IN
6/23/96: Indianapolis,IN
6/24/96: Lebanon, IN
6/25/96: Frankfort,IN
6/26/96: Lafayette,IN
6/27/96: Reynolds/Monticello,IN
6/28/96: Rensselaer, IN
6/29/96: Demotte, IN
6/30/96: Crown Point,IN
7/1/96: Gary, IN
7/2/96: East Chicago,IN
7/3/96 & 7/4/96: Chicago,IL
10/3/97: Greenwood, IN
10/4/97: Mooresville,IN
10/5/97: Plainfield,IN.
10/6/97: Brownsburg,IN
10/7/97: Zionsville, IN
10/8/97: Carmel,IN
10/9/97: Lawrence,IN
10/10/97: Indianapolis,IN
4/30/98: Greenwood,IN
5/1/98: Franklin,IN
5/2/98: Columbus,IN
5/3/98: Seymour,IN-
5/4/98: Scottsburg,IN
5/5/98: Charlestown,IN
5/6/98: Jeffersonville,IN.
5/7/98: New Albany,IN
5/8/98: Indianapolis,IN
9/22 & 9/23/99: Carmel,IN
9/24 & 9/25/99: Lebanon,IN
9/26 & 9/27/99: Greencastle,IN
9/28 & 9/29/99: Danville,IN
9/30 & 10/1/99: Indianapolis,IN
9/26/00: Shelbyville & Connersville,IN
9/27/00: Franklin & Martinsville,IN
9/28/00: Bloomington & Bedford,IN
9/29/00: Jasper & Santa Claus,IN
9/30/00: Princeton & Evansville,IN
10/2/00: East Chicago,IN
10/3/00: Valparaiso & LaPorte,IN
10/4/00: Elkhart & Kendallville,IN
10/5/00: Garrett & Fort Wayne,IN
10/6/00: Marion & Anderson, IN
10/7 & 10/8/00: Indianapolis,IN
4/16/01: Warsaw, IN
4/17/01: Indianapolis,IN
4/18/01: Columbus, IN-
4/20/01: Connersville,IN
8/5/01: Indianapolis,IN
8/6/01: Muncie & Richmond,IN
8/7/01: Shelbyville & Franklin,IN
8/8/01: Martinsville & Bloomington,IN
8/9/01: Seymour & North Vernon,IN
8/10/01: New Albany, IN
8/11/01: Evansville & Princeton,IN
8/12/01: Terre Haute & Lafayette,IN
8/13/01: East Chicago,IN
8/14/01: Valparaiso & Knox,IN
8/15/01: Elkhart & Garrett,IN
8/16/01: Fort Wayne & Huntington,IN
8/17/01: Kokomo,IN
8/18/01: Indianapolis,IN
9/29/01: Carmel,IN
4/20 & 4/21/02: Kendallville & LaGrange,IN
4/23/02: Indianapolis,IN
4/28/02: Indianapolis,IN
4/29/02: Frankfort,IN
5/24/02: New Albany,IN
10/26/02: Indianapolis,IN
3/20/03: Martinsville,IN.
9/25/03: Chesterfield,IN
4/25/04: Carmel, Westfield, East Union, Tipton, Kokomo and Rochester,IN
5/17/04: St. Louis,MO
5/18/04: Orlando,FL
5/26/04: Glendale,AZ
5/27/04: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe & Mesa,AZ
5/30/04: Denver,CO
10/1/04: Indianapolis ICADV
07/02/05: Peoria,IL
09/10/05: Indianapolis,IN (ICADV)
11/05/05: Duluth, MN
4/23/06: Broad Ripple,IN
8/16/06: Richmond,IN
09/23/06: Indianapolis,IN
02/11/07: Goshen, IN
04/01/07: Indianapolis, IN

What is the Tenderness Trail?

The Tenderness Trail began as a memorial to child victims of violence. Located on the Tenderness Tour website, in a matter of months the Tenderness Trail has grown to include thousands of names from around the world. In 2007, "The Tenderness Trail" becomes a living memorial to the children of the world as Richard begins the task of developing a "Tenderness Trail" in each U.S. State and around the world. We are actively looking for donated property and/or an area of land in each state upon which we can develop a "Tenderness Trail" with brick memorial markers, trees and other appropriate items. Please contact Richard if you can help with this or if you'd like to be involved coordinating your state's trail.

Do you know a child who has died as a result of violence? Submit their name, location, date of birth/death and, if possible, a link to any articles/memorial pages. Their name will be listed on the "Tenderness Trail" and as part of this growing living memorial to children of the world.

To submit names, volunteer or host a tree please contact Richard at- Richard@tendernesstour.com.

THE TENDERNESS AWARD

The Tenderness Network is the proud sponsor of the "Tenderness Award," awarded annually to recognize individual and organizational efforts to create a peaceful home for every child. In 2005, the "Tenderness Award" was made a national award. In addition to the national award, 2006 brings the addition of awards in the arts, politics, religion and business.

Indiana "Tenderness Award" winners have included:

1999: Prevent Child Abuse, Indiana

2000: Reach for Youth, Indpls., IN

2001: Daryl Abbott of CAPS in Elkhart, IN

2002: The Haven Youth Center, Martinsville, IN

2003: Michie Sebree, NeoFight

2004: Katie Collier, Make-A-Wish of Indiana

In 2005, the "Tenderness Award" became a national award and has recognized:

2005: First Witness of Duluth, MN

2006: Justin Watt, PFC, of Tucson, AZ

UPCOMING EVENTS

Richard has announced the following tentative Tenderness Tour events:

July 7th, 2007- Cleveland, OH

August 2007- ICADV Tenderness Tour in Indianapolis benefiting Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

September 2007- Tenderness Tour 100...Richard's most extreme one-day event ever as he attempts to wheel 100 miles over 24 straight hours of wheeling. Specific details soon!

Fall 2007- Potential Pittsburgh, PA date

Would you like to host a Tenderness Tour event to benefit one of your local charities? Contact Richard for more details.

Interested in being on Richard's training team? Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Medical support, road logistics, PR, nutrition, a massage therapist, a trainer and event planner volunteers. Additionally, Richard is always seeking host homes, goods/services to support the road activities, mechanics (for the wheelchair), opportunities to speak (youth groups/churches/schools, especially) and much much more!