JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – An Orange Park man famous on social media for walking across the country hit a huge milestone on Sunday in Jacksonville Beach.
Kyndal Edwards dipped his toes in the ocean, marking the end of his third cross-country trek.
Edwards calls himself a walking testimony.
“It’s not always easy. Sometimes you gotta put yourself through the fire and the flames,” Edwards said.
Edwards is an open book when it comes to his troubled past. Over 15 years combined of depression, addiction and crime.
Edwards has been in the county jail 11 times and sentenced to prison twice. He survived multiple overdoses and attempted to take his own life.
“I shouldn’t be standing here today,” Edwards said. “Even though my past doesn’t define me, I still see myself as a 13-time convicted felon.”
But after turning his life around in prison, Edwards just started walking...and walking...and walking some more.
East to west, west to east, snowcapped mountains to rolling plains, to right here in the Sunshine State, seeing every corner of the U.S.
News4JAX was there for the incredible finish of Edwards’ 8,000-mile journey that all started in January 2022 with a younger Edwards in a winter hat, holding a mannequin.
He said his journeys are all in the name of mental health awareness:
“We all go through something, and I wanna let every single one of you know, I don’t have to know you in person, I don’t ever have to have met you to mean this from the bottom of my heart when I say that I love you and I care about you,” Edwards said.
Kyndal’s parents, Rhonda & Shelton Edwards, said they’re extremely proud of their son, and they hope his journeys continue.
Kyndal will be back at it soon. After taking a few days off, he will start his next journey to the Florida Keys, and eventually head all the way to Maine.
Mental health resources
Here is a list of mental health resources available in Florida.
- UF Health St. Johns Behavioral Health Resource Center - open 24/7 with clinicians on staff and available to assist during a crisis. No appointment is needed.
- EPIC Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 26+, dial 988, and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.
- EPIC Access Support Center – Walk-in services for mental health at their North Campus, Northwest Campus, and Flagler Campus. If this service is needed, walk-in during hours or call (904) 495-7001.
- Mobile Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 5-25 years old. Dial 988 or 911 and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.
- Vinson Foundation - A support group for St. Johns, Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, and Orange Park, for families who lost someone to suicide.
- St. Augustine Youth Services: 904-829-1770
- Call 211 - Local experts are available 24/7 to help. Calls to 211 are confidential and can be anonymous.
- Hope for Healing Florida - Hope for Healing navigates the many ways Floridians can access help for mental health and substance abuse
These resources can be accessed nationwide.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call or text 988 for help. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or someone you know.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources for issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
- Veterans Crisis Line - Text 838255 or call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
- Crisis Text Line - Text “Home” to 741741
- Teen Line - Text “Teen” to 839863
If you or anyone you know needs help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
