Kyndal Ray, thirty years old, is walking across America for Mental Health Awareness, Recovery, and Habits 365. Kyndal began his journey on January 1st, 2022, at the Jacksonville Beach Pier in Florida, with his feet in the Atlantic Ocean. He’s heading northwest to put his feet in the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, Washington, on April 12, 2023, his four-year drug-free anniversary.
CCCNews spoke with Kyndal on April 2nd, 2023 at the Hood River Best Western to learn more.
According to Kyndal, his story is one of transformation and hope. He is a recovering addict who is walking across the United States to raise awareness about mental health, addiction recovery, and healthy habits.
Over dinner, Kyndal discusses his sheltered Southern Baptist upbringing in Orange Park, Florida, as well as his troubled past, which includes multiple convictions, incarceration, and nights spent sleeping in and stealing from the local post office.
While he believes it is important to be honest about his past, Kyndal says that those days are now behind him, and his energy is focused on what he can do now and in the future to make a better life for himself and those around him.
When asked why he decided to walk across America, Kyndal says he was inspired by an article he read in 2013 about a man named Harrison Millanian, who walked from Florida to California just for the experience. Kyndal was inspired to attempt a similar walk in 2015, but it was not possible because he was still struggling with addiction and ended up back in prison.
But Kyndal knew he was ready for a change this time.
“I just started changing what I did, how I lived, I did my time and I didn’t let my time do me, you know what I mean? I stopped counting the days and started making the days count,” he says.
Kyndal was given a work release and saved every penny to help finance his dream of Walking Across America for a cause.
However, when he was released from prison in November 2021, Kyndal realized that he had an opportunity to change his life and make a difference.
“At that point I was like: I don’t have a girlfriend. I don’t have kids. I have some money saved up and I’m about to get out of prison wihtout probation. I’m a free man. I’ve been wanting to walk across for years and I’m in the position to do it,” he says.
On January 1st, 2022, he began his journey and has been walking ever since, sharing his story and raising awareness for mental health and addiction recovery with everyone he meets along the way.
Kyndal was asked about his clothing by CCCNews. Kyndal says he wears a shirt with the names of 180 people who died as a result of a drug overdose or suicide to honor them and their struggles. In addition, he is promoting Habits 365, a clothing line that encourages people to practice healthy habits every day of the year. What about the shoes he wore while walking across America? On his journey, he has nearly worn out three pairs of Asics running shoes.
When asked what recovery means to him, Kyndal, says that recovery means turning his life around and making a positive impact on the world. He believes that everyone has the potential to change their life, no matter how difficult their past may be.
“You matter and we do recover. And, always hold your head high. Because when your chin is down, that’s when the crown can fall to the ground. And we are all royalty. So know your worth people,” says Kyndal.
Kyndal said that while he’s looking forward to meeting his family, friends, and girlfriend in Long Beach on April 12th, he’s also keeping an eye on his goals for the more distant future.
“I have to just climb to the end and start putting more time into writing a book for the next part of the journey, because it’s not over. This is just the coast-to-coast portion,” says Kyndal.
Following the completion of his walk across America, Kyndal plans to write a book about his experience and launch a career as a motivational speaker.
He hopes that his journey across America will serve as a “walking testimony” to the power of resilience, hope, and determination for anyone who needs motivation to recover and develop healthy habits, regardless of their struggles or circumstances.