Blue Moon Estate Sales Franchise Owner and Army Veteran to Walk 450 Miles Across Nebraska for Women and Girls

Nebraska charity walk

Beginning Sept. 12, Chester, 39, will embark on Unite NE 450, a 450-mile walk across Nebraska completed over 15 consecutive days. The Army veteran, entrepreneur and Blue Moon Estate Sales franchise owner will average approximately 30 miles each day from Gering to Omaha with a goal of raising more than $50,000 to support women in crisis, female veterans and opportunities for girls through scholarships, athletics, leadership development and mentorship.

Chester and her husband opened Blue Moon Estate Sales of Omaha five years ago. Since then, they have served families throughout the Omaha metro and surrounding communities, helping clients navigate significant life transitions. Chester said the relationships she has built as a local business owner helped inspire her to find a larger way to give back across the state.

“Owning a small business has given me an incredible connection to our community,” said Chester. “I wanted to do something big enough to make people pay attention to the women and girls in our state who deserve to be seen, supported and given opportunities. I kept coming back to one question: What am I personally willing to do to help create that change? For me, the answer was 450 miles.”

Unite ne 450 mission

Chester founded Unite NE 450 through United Nebraska Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with the message “Follow Her Lead.” Along the route, she will honor 45 Nebraska women, approximately one every 10 miles, whose stories represent courage, service, resilience and leadership.

The mission draws from Chester’s own experiences as a mother, Army veteran, former collegiate athlete, entrepreneur and nonprofit founder. She joined the U.S. Army in 2012, becoming the first woman in her family to serve, and worked as a 68X Behavioral Health Specialist. Her military experience also helped shape Unite NE 450’s focus on supporting female veterans.

“My Army experience taught me discipline, endurance, teamwork and how to keep moving when things get uncomfortable,” Chester said. “There will be days when I’m exhausted, sore and still have miles ahead of me, but I learned to focus on the mission, rely on my team and keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

The Unite NE 450 journey begins Sept. 12 at the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering and travels east primarily along Highways 26, 30 and 92. The route will pass through or near communities including Bridgeport, Lisco, Lewellen, Ogallala, Sutherland, North Platte, Willow Island, Josselyn, Kearney, Wood River, Central City, Osceola and Yutan before reaching the Omaha metro.

A public finish celebration will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Blend West, where supporters are invited to welcome Chester home. Blend West will offer special Unite NE 450 drinks, with 50% of proceeds from featured drinks donated to the initiative.

“My hope is that this walk becomes much bigger than one person walking across Nebraska,” Chester said. “I want people across the state to see themselves in this mission, learn the stories of the women we honor and see what can happen when communities come together to support women and girls.”

Media opportunities will be available at the Sept. 12 kickoff, throughout the 15-day route and during the Sept. 26 finish celebration in Omaha.