US trek sets blistering pace for cancer

The Leeds Metropolitan University graduate walked from San Francisco to New York City to raise over £3,000 for Cancer Research.

The 25-year-old walked for 234 days across 10 states, spending most nights in his tent by the roadside.

“I began my trip on August 17, last year,” he said. “I just carried my rucksack and a sign which stated who I was, what I was doing and what I was fund-raising for. The sign made people curious enough to want to know more and a lot would stop and chat to me. More than 30 families opened their homes to me during my travels and I met some amazing people.”

The idea for the trip first came to him after meeting an American woman, Danielle Koffler while travelling in Asia.

“Danielle told me that a lot of people do marathon bike rides across the US for charity. I’m not a cyclist but what she said stuck with me. My grandfather passed when I was working in Sydney in February 2011.

“Although he died from other causes, he had previously survived prostate cancer and was very interested in cancer research. That’s why I decided to do the walk for Cancer Research UK.

“Some days things were difficult through exhaustion or the terrible blisters but never once did I consider giving up. I knew there was only one place my expedition would end – New York.”

He walked through Arizona, Arkansas, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and New York. To donate visit www.alanwalksamerica.com