Walking Testimony
FARMINGTON N.M. – Do you have a passion that would cause you to walk across America? For Kyndal Edwards, it’s mental health and substance abuse recovery.
He marked 68 months drug free and it happened in New Mexico.
“That’s a 180-degree turn I’ve personally taken in my life from trying to take my life from overdosing from in and out of county jail. I just hit 68 months drug free today and I’m a firm believer that our past does not define us and there’s always hope. Each shirt has 180 names on the back of beautiful souls that are no longer with us. All together that is 2,160 names that are no longer with us that I have with me right here,” said Edwards.
More than 600 days of walking puts him over 6,500 miles.
“I’ve crossed 20 state lines and we are currently in-between Kirkland and Farmington, New Mexico on the grind out here,” said Edwards.
As Kyndal makes his way to Farmington he’s had a lot of people stop and say “Hi” along the way.
“When I say that the Four Corners have been nothing but amazing and a huge blessing to me it really has,” said Edwards.
He’s experienced how special the area is.
“Yesterday on the Navajo Nation I had more than ever stop. Somebody escorted me through Shiprock, having an escort from somebody on the Navajo Nation is like a huge sign of honor. I had a guy who did like a traditional prayer with me, and gave me a piece of jewelry,” said Edwards.
As his time here will come to an end.
“I will go down to Key West to hit the most eastern point and then walk the entire east coast up to Lubec, Main to the West Quoddy Lighthouse to finish all Four Corners of the lower 48 states. My goal is to put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean back on April 12, 2025 which will double as my six-year drug-free date, it’s going to be a challenging goal but I think I can make it happen,” said Edwards.
If you see Kyndal say “Hi” and listen to his message.
“Move forward with kindness with love compassion with grace and mercy because it could be you one day, it could be your family member that doesn’t want to be here or that goes through a battle”, said Edwards.
Throughout Kyndal’s journey, he helped raise money for a nonprofit called Addict to Athlete which focuses on maintaining recovery from mental health and substance abuse: