Here's Why A Palo Alto Firefighter Is Hiking 28 Days To San Diego

PALO ALTO, CA — Hiking, John Preston says, is "something I actually don't enjoy doing." But for 29 days, the Palo Alto firefighter will be doing just that, making his way on foot from Palo Alto all the way to the deck of the USS Midway San Diego.

It will be an arduous journey, for an important cause: Preston, an Iraq War veteran, is making the 625-mile trek to raise awareness of mental health issues among veterans and first responders.

Preston, an Iraq War veteran, is all too familiar with the crisis. He struggled with post-traumatic stress upon his return from Iraq, and his brother, Michael, died by suicide following his own deployment.

So, during his hike, Preston plans to stop in towns along the California coast to "let the veteran community know that we're here, let the first responder community know that we're here," he said in a video about the project.

The effort is called 22 And You — a reference to a 2013 government finding that as many as 22 veterans commit suicide each day.

Fired up and on a mission. We salute @PaloAltoFire fighter John Preston who is hiking for 28 days from #PaloAlto to San Diego to raise awareness for first responder and veteran mental health. Good luck on your journey! pic.twitter.com/EerGCqLTbk
— Palo Alto Police (@PaloAltoPolice) January 15, 2020

Preston began his hike this week, getting a grand send-off from the Palo Alto Fire Department.

Supporters can follow along on the 22 And You Facebook page. Preston's early progress is promising: by the end of Day 1, he had made it to Scotts Valley.