A charity campaigner from Scotland has reached a major milestone in his 3,000-mile, kilted walk across the United States. Craig Ferguson, 22, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, arrived in Washington DC after walking approximately 2,800 miles since setting off from Santa Monica Pier, California, on February 24.
Ferguson has been walking around a marathon distance (26.2 miles) every day, with just 450 miles remaining to his finishing line in Boston, where he intends to see his team compete in the World Cup. He has raised over £170,000 for mental health charity SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), with a target of £1 million.
Speaking from Washington DC, Ferguson said: 'Arriving in Washington DC feels surreal. Mentally and physically, I’m exhausted – there are days where every single mile hurts – but knowing there’s now less than 500 miles to go gives me a huge lift.' He added that the kindness of people across America has been overwhelming, with many sharing their own mental health stories.
Ferguson recalled meeting an elderly woman with dementia in Illinois. The pair shared a brief conversation, and her granddaughter later told him that her gran kept talking about 'the Scottish boy walking across America' long after they met, despite her condition. 'Hearing that genuinely meant a lot and reminded me why this challenge matters beyond the fundraising total,' he said.
Hazel McIlwraith, director of fundraising and major appeals at SAMH, praised Ferguson's achievement: 'What Craig has achieved already is nothing short of extraordinary. Walking 2,800 miles across the United States while raising awareness of mental health and over £170,000 for SAMH is a phenomenal accomplishment.'
