His small backpack is stuffed with the bare necessities: a tent, a map of the United States,

spare wheels for the rollerblades and $300 in cash. That is all that Krzysztof Dzienniak owns and needs right now. He is ready to rollerblade cross country from New York City to Seattle. The way to Bill Gates will take him through 11 states.

Krzysztof landed in JFK Airport on Aug. 27th. Even after a long flight from Poland, he was energetic and smiling. This is his first time in the United States and he has no family here.

“The Polish consul was supposed to pick me up from the airport, but right before my departure I found out he would not be there,” said Krzysztof.

Krzysztof flew in from Silesia, a region in southern Poland, where for the past seven years he has been helping a charity – one of the biggest and best known in Poland. A friend at the charity called another friend living in New York, who picked up Krzysztof at the airport and put him up the first night.

“I was ready to hit the road the next morning. I planned to use local routes and avoid patrolmen,” said Krzysztof. He then asked “How big is New Jersey?”

I believe I can do it

His enthusiasm and will to help are incredibly strong, setting him off on this trip with a purpose.

“I know that the wealthiest man in the world lives in Seattle. I believe I will be able to meet him and ask for help for Monika and Patrycja. Monika is 7 years old girl who was born with hydrocephalitis, which caused damage to the membranes covering the brain. Patrycja, who is 10, was hit by a streetcar and lost both her feet. The two girls need treatment but the costs are very high,” he said.

Before leaving Poland, Krzysztof gave each girl a token gift of $1. He hopes that Bill Gates will give them much more. “I want to get him interested in the girls,” said Krzysztof, adding “I also want to prove that Poles are capable and innovative people. I know Gates helps many charities.”

If Gates agrees to help, Krzysztof also plans to ask him for money to help boost education in Poland. “We have a lot of talented youth, diamonds in the rough. They need education,” said Krzysztof.

Consul wishes him luck

”I hope I will be back home for Christmas,” said Krzysztof. He has been practicing rollerblading for 4 months. His English is very poor, but he is not afraid. “The Church will be my signpost, I know I can count on good people. If I am in need, I will knock on church doors,” he said in explanation of his survival strategies. He will sleep in his tent wherever he will be able to pitch it.

Krzysztof exuded an air of purpose with a touch of naivety. He even managed to convince

the U.S. consul in Warsaw to grant him a visa with wishes for good luck attached. Under purpose for the visa, the consul wrote: “Rollerblading from N.Y.C. to Seattle.”