Jack Huffman, on his third cross-country trek to raise funds for fallen and wounded veterans, holds a folded American flag. (Facebook/Jaxwalk)
(Tribune News Service) — A man on a solo mission to walk across the United States raising funds for the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund will be coming through Emporia this evening.
Jack Huffman has been walking across the United States since March 14, when he set out from Dana Strands, California, on his way to Washington D.C., a distance of almost 3,000 miles.
Huffman has walked through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma on his way to Kansas, with 150 lbs of gear to keep him going on his solo journey. Around noon on Wednesday, Huffman passed through Strong City, and is currently following U.S. 50 on his way to Emporia.
This isn’t the first time Huffman has attempted such a feat.
Huffman’s past two trips across the country, including his current trek, have been fundraisers for the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization helping to cover living and healthcare costs to wounded veterans, as well as assistance to the families of those who have fallen. All donations raised during his trip will go to the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund once Huffman reaches the nation’s capital.
“Our veterans are very underserved in this country and it tends to be the communities that take care of them,” Huffman told The Gazette Wednesday. “I’m more than happy to support our veterans. I have a lot of veterans and military members in my own family and it’s an honor to be able to do this for them.”
Huffman is trying to average 30-60 miles per day in order to break the world record, but that isn’t stopping him from enjoying his journey and the people he meets along the way.
“I’ve changed people’s flat tires out here, helped semi-drivers get back on the road,” Huffman chuckled. “Sometimes it can be a stretch being able to get food and water out there and that’s where the community comes in. That has been absolutely amazing. They come out with food, out in the middle of nowhere, and have water and supplies and whatever you need. It’s really a lesson for me to be able to showcase how great America really is.”
Jack Huffman takes a selfie somewhere while traversing Kansas on April 23, 2024, day 40 of his trek across country. (Facebook/Jaxwalk)
Emporian Ed Rathke, of the local Ball-McColm American Legion Post 5, even stepped in to purchase Huffman a hotel room to wash up and restock with food, water and new shoes.
“I got to give a huge shout-out to all the American Legions along the way,” Huffman said. “They have just been absolutely outstanding with food and water. People in this area have offered their help all the way through.”
Huffman’s first journey was in March of 2019, when he walked from Newport Beach, California, to Tybee Island, Georgia — a trek of almost 3,000 miles in 79 days. Jaxwalk started as a way for Huffman to combat an unhealthy lifestyle, later growing into what it is today.
“I was overweight myself,” Huffman said. “Bad eating habits and drinking and to change my life around I changed my diet and just started walking. It started with two miles a day and then four miles a day. Before I knew it, I was walking 40 miles a day.”
Once Huffman felt he was in good enough shape, he decided it was time to fulfill a childhood dream.
“Walking across America was always kind of a childhood dream of mine and it was like, ‘Well, if you’re ever gonna do it, now is the time,’” Huffman said.
Huffman plans to reach Washington D.C. in the next 20-30 days. To donate, check his real-time location or follow along with Huffman’s journey, visit his website, https://jaxwalk.com or find him on Facebook and Instagram.
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