Ruk_Runner@fb, tiktok, insta "RuckITUSA"

Mental Health Service (Teen Suicide Prevention Counseling) to those who cannot afford it. Also, venmo@ruk_runner or paypal

My name is Shawn Whitcomb, 54 year old male from Copperas Cove, Texas, aka ruk_runner @tik-tok, FB, Meta,instagram. The Main Mission "RuckITUSA" is to assist in the cost of a teenager or young persons Mental Health Counseling or Therapy billing. We can do this by Donations or by Mental Health Care Professionals volunteering hours of sessions to their local communities. Too many Teenagers today consider suicide as an option to releive their pain much too often. Why this generation more than any other? The explanation may sound Simple but the repair, NOT So Much! Social Media! The pressures these Teenagers face today are incredible. Everyday of their lives they're judged on Social Media, by pictures or videos that post about them on: What they wear, What they look like, or simply What they did or doing. Can you imagine if you were a kid again in this day and age? Look back at your high school life? How would've you been able to measure up? Were you a bully, a victim, popular, or just low profile? Kids can be brutal and the pressures can be unbearable. Most times there is no easy fix that can absolutely cure or help see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mental Health Issues can be for for Life. ...and that's where we come in. You and I. WE!

So a little about me; After Retiring from The Army I was a Volunteer Firefighter that made Captian after 7 years of Fire Station #1 on the east side of Lake CDA, Idaho. I resigned in 2019 to pursue my own selfish travels and goals. Worked at a Resort/Condos, Harrison, Idaho doing Resort/Condo Property Management/Maintenance April 2012- Nov 2020 Contract ended during the whole Pandemic crisis. I got severely depressed, didn't like this world anymore myself, or where it was/is headed. Single guy up to 300lbs in weight and had COVID January 28th, 2021.

When I recovered March 10th 2021, I decided enough feeling sorry for myself! I started to work out using the P90X Program. The first day I couldn't do one single push-up, not one sit-up, not more than 2 minutes on the elliptical. By week 2 I could do 10 of each and 10 minutes on the elliptical. By the end of the first month I was doing 30 of each, and running 2 miles, slow, but 2 miles. At the 3rd month I was running 3.5 to 5 miles, by month 6 it was 10 mile runs, 340 sit-ups in increments, and 400 push-ups in increments every other day 6 days a week. It wasn't enough, I decided to do 12 mile road marches with a 35lbs pack, then completing the 50 miler and 100 miler for (Stop Soldier Suicide Awareness on Facebook), every other day 20 miler with a 60lbs ruck. Which made me decide that this walking really makes me happy. Yes, I'm in pain, physical, Mental, joint, lower back pain, but it was so much better to be able to bend over and tie my shoes, or walking a staircase without being out of breath. I felt alive again. I've always wanted to walk the USA, always thought and talked about it the last couple of years, but could I make it a reality? I decided with gas prices so high, my friends that have died by Suicide, my friends kids that have committed or attempted suicide, why not take this opportunity to talk Awareness and to support Mental Health along the way.

A lot of it is for myself. Soul searching maybe. My causes that mean the most to me are Suicide Awareness, and Mental Health ( ; ), the other 2 are Autism and Antibullying. I have PTSD myself but I don't want to be the victim in this story. I'm doing this walk either way, it's good for me mentally. I need this mostly to prove to myself how much or how far I can survive on my own while I'm still healthy enough to do something like this at 54 years old, almost 55. I love my country and I love my friends. I'm hoping to keep them and myself around awhile.

On or about April 17th I started walking from Point Reyes, California to North Beach near San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and continuing to walk to Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, North Carolina using the (ADT) American Discovery Trail. (See me on The American Discovery Trail Facebook Group Page ran by Bob Palin. I'm hoping to make the 4-5000 mile trek in hopefully not more than 12 months. I will not be in a rush to hit the finish line. This is not a world record breaking type goal. It is a "Making It!" Type of goal. I've done over 1,500+ miles so far starting with 76lbs of gear and now finally down to 52lbs of gear with food and water. I really think I can finish this! Did I mention that I'm donating $1 a mile that I complete to a random Teenager in need to help pay for their counseling/therapy sessions??? Thank you so much for just stopping by to read this page.