A journey of awareness for foster care

This week, the 23-year-old camp counselor will begin what he hopes to be a 55-day journey, logging more than 3,000 miles from Boston to San Francisco to raise $20,000 for Camp to Belong Massachusetts, which holds its summer program in the Berkshires.

At his send-off yesterday`, a small crowd cheered as Harlow and his mother, who had driven from his hometown of Putney, Vt., arrived at the State House.

"Tyler's ride across America is an act of courage," said Corey Manning, a youth director for Camp to Belong Massachusetts. "Here is a man who is stepping up to the plate to raise money and awareness. He's going to take a ride of his life."

The event drew a powerful account from state Representative Gloria L. Fox, a founding member of the Massachusetts Legislative Foster Care Coalition, who spoke about her own journey through the foster care system.

She was 8 when her mother fell ill and Fox and her brother were sent to live with an aunt. Two years later, the two were placed in separate foster homes. Fox went to live with a family in Everett; Leroy Jackson went to live in Sharon.

She has not seen him since.

"From that time, I've been looking for my family," Fox told the group at the State House. "I've been looking for my brother."

Fox, who has been vocal about her search for her family, said she lost track of her mother but found her father in the 1980s. He'd been living in the South End, quietly watching her rise from a quiet dreamer to an outspoken House representative.

She found him only after a resident in his apartment building learned about Fox's tearful acceptance of an award in which she told her life's story.

Her father, Leroy Walker, left a message with management at his apartment complex who called her, she said. She went to his apartment, knocked on his door, "and saw a little man who looked just like me."

The two spent a decade getting reacquainted before he died at around 98.

Fox said the mission of Camp to Belong Massachusetts touches her personally.

"It has a special meaning because it talks about not separating siblings," Fox said. "Back in the day child welfare offices did. They weren't sensitive to keep families intact."

Harlow is also aware of that mission. At the event yesterday he said that people have called his quest courageous and a heroic. But he said he's simply doing what he can.

"This is my way of saying thank you to the children who are the real heroes," he said. "The journey has just begun."

Camp to Belong Massachusetts, which is run by the nonprofit Sibling Connections, saw $20,000 in state funding slashed from its $100,000 allotment this year.

Judy Cockerton, who founded the Bay State camp, said after that news was announced Harlow called her and told her he'd ride to raise the cash.

So far, he's raised nearly $5,000.

Harlow, who will depart Wednesday from Boston, plans stops in Gettysburg, Pa., Columbus, Ohio, Newton, Kan., and Pueblo, Colo. He plans to post details of his travels on a blog.

Along the way, he will stay with family and friends and plans to stop by national monuments in Utah and Nevada.

"Tyler has blown my mind," she said. "Talk about going above and beyond."

Meghan Irons can be reached at mirons@globe.com