A local veteran is starting quite the journey. What's even more incredible is it's his second year making an incredible walk. Travis Snyder is walking 300 miles.
“This year is a little bit shorter, instead of going all the way around Lake Michigan, it’s going to be from Holland to Mackinac, right up to the bridge,” veteran Travis Snyder said.
Snyder is walking to raise awareness about veteran suicide, after losing a friend and fellow veteran about a year ago. He's struggled with mental health himself.
“The goal is to walk about 22 miles a day, to kind of commemorate the 22 veteran brothers and sisters that we lose every day to suicide,” Snyder said.
Snyder left from Holland on Monday. He'll walk the almost-marathon a day until he gets to the bridge, which will take about two weeks.
Thanks to his very similar trek last year, he's got friends along the way offering him places to stay.
“Rain or shine, I’ll be pushing through,” Snyder said.
Travis is raising money for Mission 22, an organization that connects veterans with resources nation wide.
“The goal is not only to raise awareness further of veteran suicide and mental health, but also just to make a lot of brothers and sisters that are out there, aware of the resources that are out there,” Snyder said.
To donate and follow along with Snyder's journey, you can find that information here.
He said if you see him along the way, he'd love it if people would say hello.
“The more the merrier, if you see me out on the road stop by honk, if you want to talk a little bit, I’d love to hear from you,” Snyder said.
