Top: Troy Yocum (far left), an Iraq War veteran from Kentucky, is walking 7,000 miles across the country to raise money for military families in need. He visited North Brunswick on Saturday, accompanied along Route 130 with Christine Koch, whose son Stephen was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, and North Brunswick volunteer firefighter Darren Carroll (middle). Left: Yocum took pictures with supporters at North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. PHOTOS BY JENNIFER AMATO Despite having walked over 33 million steps over 6,000 miles over the past 14 months, Iraq War veteran Troy Yocum was in high spirits as he walked through inclement weather to North Brunswick on Saturday.
The pouring rain held out just long enough for Yocum and supporters of his remarkable trek to take cover at North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. Hemade light of the fact that the weather on June 11 was his biggest concern, despite walking seemingly forever, several hospital visits and a mission to raise $5 million for military families in need.
“At least this didn’t come down as we were walking. I usually get caught in this crap,” he laughed.
The 31-year-old Louisville, Ky., native has been walking across the United States through “A Soldier’s Hike for Heroes” to bring attention to the plight of servicemen and women and their families, problems like depression, suicide, unemployment and homelessness.
The National Guardsman returned from Iraq in 2009. While serving there, he received an email from a friend who lost his job and house, and had become suicidal.
He originally had some friends form different bands and do an online music show to raise money. Then, about two years ago, he drew out a map of how he could cross the country by foot with the hopes of raising $5 million to help people just like his friend.
“It’s really taxing. I thought I’d be super skinny and fit,” he laughed.
Thus far, he has raised about $200,000 on his own. However, with the help of Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods, he raised another $260,000 in just the past month. Modell was put in contact with Yocum through an association with Darren Carroll, a firefighter with North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1.
“It feels amazing,” Yocum said to arrive and meet Carroll, as well as executives from Party City and Modell’s who are contributing to his fundraising efforts. “This is the miracle I’ve been praying for for months.”
Carroll, noting that it “was not easy” to keep pace with Yocum while walking from South Brunswick, also was amazed by the day.
“As soon as I saw him coming up the road fromSouth Brunswick, it was almost like my heart sank to my stomach. I had goose bumps, I had chills,” he said.
Carroll had been following Yocum’s journey on Facebook for the past eight months. “He’s already helped out so many people. … It’s a very humbling experience.”
To further illustrate the impact the recent wars have had on veterans’ families, Yocum also walked with Bill and Christine Koch, whose son, U.S. Army Cpl. Steven R. Koch, was killed in Afghanistan inMarch 2008.
Their daughter Lynne committed suicide just about a year ago, unable to deal with her brother’s death.
“How do you deal with this? How do you deal with losing your kids? This helps,” Christine Koch of East Brunswick said, mentioning that she still worries about the soldiers in her son’s platoon who are set to be redeployed; her concerns are heightened by the emails she receives every day about soldiers being killed.
So, to help deal with their grief, Bill Koch rode in a truck that displayed “Freedom isn’t Free,” as Christine walked with Yocum; she joined him around Old Georges Road and continued walking four miles to the firehouse.
The groupwas accompanied by police and fire escorts.
“This is the most honorable thing you can do now, besides serving in the military,” Bill Koch said of Yocum’s plan to help military families.
This past Monday, Yocum had planned to walk in Stephen’s honor from New Brunswick to Elizabeth. The Koches are formerly from North Brunswick.
“It’s a nice honor to meet these guys who are doing this,” Bill Koch said. “We know what the families go through.”
Another honor is to have the support of those who are in a position to contribute financially. Mitchell Modell personally attended Fire Company No. 1’s summer kickoff, which included a barbecue, silent auction and motorcycle raffle.
“This is the first time [meeting him] after talking to Troy every day since May 14,” Modell said excitedly, laughing at the fact that he forgot to give Yocumhis cell phone number when emailing him about his cause, and that Yocum didn’t recognize who he was during their initial conversation. “I was out for dinner so I called Troy back in two hours. I said to him, ‘We are absolutely getting involved. I know exactly what we’re going to do. Let me get back to you.’ ”
Though that exact involvement was not expected to be known until a major press conference in Times Square in New York City on Wednesday morning, Yocum said that “it’s the call I’ve been waiting for.” He was surprised enough at first when Modell pledged $10,000 after Carroll sent him the link to Yocum’s website.
“I knew he was serious,” Yocum said. “I had to sit down. [My wife] Mareike was like, ‘What is wrongwith you?’ I said, ‘I think it’s real.’ She said, ‘What do you mean you think it’s real?’ I said, ‘I think somebody is really going to help us.’ ”
Having walked from Kentucky to San Diego to the East Coast thus far, Yocum, Mareike and their dogs, Emmie and Harley, will travel north to Boston and then back home to Kentucky by Sept. 3, which Yocum said is a “slow down” since they’ll only be traveling 15 to 18 miles a day, compared to the 30 miles he’s been walking recently.
“I’m very proud [of Troy.] Not everyone does things like this,” Mareike Yocum said.
The Germany native has enjoyed seeing “more ofAmerica than a lot ofAmericans have seen,” especially since she walked the first 4,000 miles with her husband. Now, she is driving their RV.
“It’s awesome. It’s exciting. We’re very busy; we don’t have days off, but it’s all worth it … when we meet those people who know what we’re doing all this work for,” she said.
Donations for Yocum’s efforts are being raised through the Wish Upon a Hero Foundation. For more information, visit www.DrumHike.com or WishUponaHero.com.