(March 3) -- He's still in need of some sponsors and doesn't have a support team, but that's not stopping 54-year-old Vietnam veteran Jerry Nelson from bicycling cross-country to raise money for homeless vets.
Nelson will begin his 2,000-mile-plus journey from Asheville, N.C., to California on March 19. The professional photographer and homeless advocate hopes to raise $10,000 for the Asheville Homeless Network, which says it's the nation's only organization made up of homeless people aimed at helping the homeless, according to Asheville's Mountain Xpress.
“This story’s not about this big ol’ boy,” Nelson told the paper. “It’s about the veterans coming back that don’t have a place to live. I’ve got a soft spot for them.”
Nelson, who served in the Navy from 1972-84, credits the Veterans Administration with providing the resources so he never went homeless. He completed a similar ride in 2008 to benefit the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans.
What Nelson lacks in preparation he makes up for in commitment to fellow veterans. A local cycle shop has built Nelson a bike for the trip, and another group bought him a tent and sleeping bag. He still needs more supplies, including cigarettes, which he'll be smoking as he makes the six-week trek.
Nelson plans to photograph this journey. He’ll post the photos to his Web site, journeyamerica.org, and will also update his blog.
To read more, go to Mountain Xpress.