Jackson Free Press

Brendan O'Toole isn't using lavish fundraisers to raise $2 million to support veterans. Instead, he's using his stamina, endurance and, mostly, his feet on a 3,600-mile, coast-to-coast run.

O'Toole, 24, was a sergeant in the Marine Corps from 2008 until 2012. He served in Djibouti, Haiti, and supported operations for Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010, and then he served in a combat zone in Afghanistan from August 2011 until New Year's 2012. In Afghanistan, O'Toole established and maintained communications systems to coordinate air strikes against insurgent forces and support medical evacuations.

When he completed active duty in June 2012, O'Toole returned to his hometown of Alexandria, Va. That's when he realized that he and his fellow veterans needed support—mental, physical and social—to reintegrate into their lives in the United States.

"The majority of veterans right now are not OK," O'Toole said in a release. "I spent four months in combat zones, and I myself have had problems with my temper and keeping my anger under control. The Run is part of how I keep myself calm and move forward."

The Run will take O'Toole through 21 states, including Mississippi. Averaging 15 miles a day, he began on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2012, in Oceanside, Calif., and will end in Portland, Maine late this year.

In addition to supporting veterans, it's a unique opportunity to see America from the ground.

"In Texas we had to worry about the hogs and rat snakes. In Louisiana we had to worry about the 'gators. Now, it's the mosquitoes," quipped Joey Dwyer, who is accompanying O'Toole to document the journey. He added that the team has had fun seeing the differences in the country's regions. "We all have a whole new appreciation for the country that we live in, which is amazing," Dwyer said.

O'Toole doesn't run his daily quota at one time. Rather, he might run for a few hours in the early morning and a few after sunset, especially as it gets hotter. That gives him time to stop and interact with the people and towns along the route and spread the word about what he's up to. The stops include VA hospitals and veterans' groups.

"We go out and run with these guys, bike with them, anything that they're willing to do to participate with us, we're willing to do," Dwyer said.

O'Toole says the movie "Forrest Gump" inspired him to attempt a cross-country run when he was a teenager. Five years later, with support from his friends, O'Toole launched The Run For Veterans to bring returning veterans' challenges into focus and to raise $2 million to support three organizations: The USO, Give An Hour, and Team Red White & Blue. The respective missions of these organizations are to lift the spirits of America's troops and their families, to enrich the lives of veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity, and to offer free mental-health services to military personnel, their loved ones, and hometown communities.

Even though it's O'Toole's feet that are pounding out the miles, he says it's a team effort: "We have supporters watching the weather for us, people coming out and cheering for us on the route, and people telling us their experiences and learning about the organizations we're supporting. We take the time to have lunch with people, throw a football around, and exchange stories. Our supporters are the reason why we're on the road."

In addition to O'Toole and Dwyer, the road team includes Dwyer's little brother, who is in film school and doing the trip for credit, and Adam, another Marine Corps vet and close of O'Toole's. The road team has additional support from a crew of nine on the East Coast.

Running is the closest experience that O'Toole could find to put himself in the shoes of veterans who deal with severe issues every day.

"I have made running my daily obstacle," he said in the release. "It's what I think about 24/7, just like someone who has a prosthetic leg and thinks about going to the grocery store or getting across town."

He stresses that veterans returning from military service need the support of their friends, family and community.

"If you know a veteran, have you had a conversation with him or her to see if everything is OK?" he asked. "Have you surrounded that person with support and let that person know that he or she can go to you when times are tough?"

O'Toole will be running within Mississippi starting next week. His Facebook status yesterday stated: "Between the increasing heat and the daily miles, Brendan's body needed some rest. He has been trying to shake off this sinus infection that has been lingering. Within the next couple of days we should be ready to knock out the 155 miles in Mississippi."

Entering the Magnolia State marked 1,765 miles on O'Toole's cross-country journey. As of today, the team is just east of Vicksburg, and hopes to be in Jackson by Friday.

To see O'Toole's current location, visit www.therunforveterans.org/route. Find more information about the run at www.therunforveterans.org. Follow the Run on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Run4Vets and on Twitter via @RUN4VETS.