Worth Sharing

WS

Stories That Matter

Veteran Helps Comrades "Walk off the War" With Hikes on Appalachian Trail

Veteran Helps Comrades "Walk off the War" With Hikes on Appalachian Trail
A man who is helping his fellow veterans "walk off the war" -paying for expenses and equipment on long hikes - is up for a $100,000 Hero prize.

Sean Gobin was a hero long before CNN nominated him for the title this year.

He completed three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the service in 2012. Still dealing with the memories and emotions of combat, he set out to "walk off the war," hiking all of the nearly 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Veterans Ensure Safe Passage for Chicago Kids Walking To School

About two thirds of the way through, Gobin realized he'd been processing all the emotional turmoil built up from years in Iraq and Afghanistan. He realized other veterans must be going through the same things and thought if the months he'd spent on the trail had helped him cope, it could help others, too.

Gobin founded Warrior Hike, a non-profit that provides equipment and supplies for veterans to make long distance hikes.

Veteran Makes it His New Mission to Hand Out Hugs

"It's just like a deployment, except instead of going to fight a war, your mission is to be a civilian again," Gobin told CNN.

Spending two to six months in the woods, communing with nature, meeting supportive people along the trails, and hiking with other vets helps combat veterans put the memories of war in perspective.

The costs of outfitting for such extreme hikes can be beyond most veteran's budgets. Warrior Hike provides food, camping gear, and all the other hiking essentials for vets to spend months on the trail.

Sons & Grandsons Haul Paralyzed Dad Into Grand Canyon for Trip of Lifetime

His work has made Gobin one of CNN's Top Ten 2015 Heroes.

You can vote for him as your choice for Hero of the Year at CNNHeroes.com. The network will announce the winner at their annual televised award show December 6, and present the 2015 winner with $100,000 for continuing his or her good work. See more of the Hero stories here.

(WATCH the CNN video below) - Photo: CNN video

About author

Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment