Veteran hiking across the country to raise money for homeless veterans
There’s more than 39,000 homeless veterans across the country.
Shane Moore was almost one of them.
“A few years ago, I was very close to being homeless,” the 45-year-old Navy Veteran said. “A shipmate of mine reached out to me.”
His shipmate offered him a job in Michigan. Moore was able to get back on his feet.
“Now that I’m able to take the time and do something to give back — that’s what inspired this journey,” Moore said.
Moore came up with Hike for Vets, it’s a trek across the country to raise funds and awareness for homeless veterans.
His journey began in Jacksonville Beach, FL in October. He made it to the Borderland on Sunday. He hopes to make it to San Diego, CA by May.
“The hardest days were about three weeks in, I developed shin splints and I had never had them before,” Moore said. “Walking 15 miles in a day with shin splints was just excruciating.”
Moore said he’s had to improvise where he’s going to sleep each night.
“I sleep anywhere and everywhere,” Moore said. “I’ve camped in peoples’ yards, behind abandoned buildings, at police and fire stations.”
Moore estimates he’s walked over 1,800 miles. He’s said his trek has been eye-opening.
“Pushing this cart, most people don’t take the time to read what my banner says. They just view me as some other homeless guy. I have people look the other way when I walk by them,” Moore said.
Still, he’s witnessed compassion.
“Usually once or twice a day, I’ll have someone who will stop and check on me,” Moore said. “The great thing about that is it’s been such a wide demographic of people — everyone from young kids to the elderly stop and check on me.”
Moore said he’s gone through four pairs of shoes. Here in El Paso the wheels on his 200-pound cart needed to be fixed. He plans to continue his journey on Thursday.
“I’ve definitely rediscovered along the way that I can do whatever I set my mind to,” Moore said.
If you would like to contribute to his campaign, just go to www.hikeforvets.com
