Travis Snyder is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan and this week he’s walking the length of the state of Michigan to raise awareness about veteran suicide.
According to the U.S. Veterans Administration, in 2020, there was an average of 16.8 veteran suicides per day. Snyder said the number varies by year and it’s always too high. The Holland resident set out on his sixth trek across Michigan this week, starting in Southwest Michigan to raise awareness to the issue and funds to help with treatment options.
“The goal is to encourage more veterans to talk about their experiences and what they’re going through. I’m doing this to highlight organizations and resources that we have here in Michigan and hopefully connect (veterans) with those resources so we can build a community and strengthen that community.”
Snyder says by the end of this year’s walk, he will have logged just over 2,950 miles on foot raising awareness.
“There’s definitely a lot of alone time to think out here, and then along the way, too, a lot of people, either organizations and groups will come out and join in, or one veteran at a time. We’ll all do a mile or two or sometimes the whole day. And we get veterans across southern Michigan, northern Michigan, and places in between.”
Asked about the most interesting things he’s seen along the roads of Michigan, he said there’s a lot of odd stuff.
“Machetes, drug paraphernalia, roadkill, clothing items, undergarments. Nothing too crazy. As far as treasure, I would count my cat Gulliver on the first trip. He was a big part of that trip, and he passed away a couple years ago but yeah he was a big part of my story and I miss him.”
Asked what’s next for Snyder, he said the walk is a big part of who he is right now.
“Every year I think to myself, I don’t know if I can do it anymore because I want to settle down and do the practical things in life, but as long as there is a need for pushing and amplifying veteran voices, I feel like I need to keep doing it. I’m considering doing the other Great Lakes as well and pursuing that, but it’s all a matter of time.”
Snyder said he has “huge support” from friends in Bridgman, near where he started this year’s south-to-north Michigan walk. That’s where he met up with one couple who has been with him on this walking journey since day one.
“I get to see them every year and hang out with them and their crew. They also have a friend that unfortunately took his own life a few years back, too. It’s an opportunity to commemorate him and think about everything that he did and accomplished in his life while still also acknowledging those that are still here with us that are struggling too.”
You can follow Snyder’s trek on Instagram and Facebook. Look for TravisHikesLakeMI and you can also find previous walks and how to donate to the cause at https://linktr.ee/travishikeslakemi.
