Florida Man Walks Nearly 12,000 Miles Across America to Spread a Message of Hope
RHODE ISLAND, U.S. — September 22, 2026

For nearly five years, Kyndal Ray Edwards has been walking across the United States with a simple message: “You Matter.”

The 33-year-old Florida man recently reached Rhode Island as he continues the final stage of a journey covering roughly 12,000 miles across 39 states. Since beginning the journey on January 1, 2022, Edwards has walked more than 11,600 miles over 955 days.

A Journey With a Personal Meaning
Edwards said his journey is focused on mental health awareness, recovery and encouraging people who may be struggling.

His mission is also deeply personal. He has publicly spoken about surviving suicide attempts, an overdose and periods of incarceration.

During his time in jail, Edwards read about another person who had walked across the country. The story inspired him to begin a journey of his own.

“I fell in love with the story and knew I wanted to do something similar,” Edwards told NBC 10.

Carrying Names Along the Way
Edwards travels with a cart carrying T-shirts bearing the names of people who have died, along with a sign displaying the words “You Matter.”

He says the purpose is to remind people that their lives have value and that they should not feel forgotten.

Along the route, strangers have stopped to talk with him, take photographs and offer encouragement. His online community has also grown to more than 85,000 followers.

A Message That Reached Someone in Crisis
Edwards said one of the most meaningful moments of the journey came when a person stopped him and said they had been heading home intending to end their life.

According to Edwards, the person told him that seeing his “You Matter” message changed their decision.

The encounter reinforced his belief that even a simple message can reach someone at an important moment.

The Final Miles
Edwards is currently completing the East Coast portion of his journey, traveling from the southernmost point of Florida toward the northeasternmost point of Maine.

He expects to finish the roughly 12,000-mile journey by the end of October.

Along the way, he has also raised more than $12,000 toward a $50,000 fundraising goal for Never Alone Recovery, a nonprofit focused on helping people and families affected by addiction.

After thousands of miles, Edwards says the journey is about much more than reaching a destination.

His message remains the same: keep going, treat yourself and others with kindness, and remind people that they matter.

Sources: NBC 10 WJAR; WPRI 12.