Across-America walker brings message of hope to local inmates

TL;DR: Mental health advocate Kyndal Ray Edwards, walking 11,000 miles across America to raise awareness, spoke with Chesterfield County Jail inmates on his journey toward recovery and hope.

The story

Kyndal Ray Edwards, a mental health advocate walking 11,000 miles across America, visited the Chesterfield County Jail on Thursday morning to share his story of perseverance with inmates participating in the facility's mental health recovery program.

Edwards, who is trekking to all four corners of the United States starting January 1, 2022, carries a sign reading "You Matter" as he walks to raise awareness of mental health and recovery. His central message to those struggling: "Hold on, pain ends. I believe that there's always hope."

Speaking to inmates in the HARP program, Edwards drew on his own experience with incarceration and mental health crises. He disclosed that he has been in county jail 11 times and in prison twice, but emphasized a core belief: "My past does not define me." Edwards has survived two suicide attempts and is motivated by a mission conceived in 2013 to demonstrate that recovery is possible.

Sheriff Karl Leonard, who established the HARP program in 2016, highlighted the significance of Edwards' visit. The program was designed to address mental illness and substance-use disorder among incarcerated individuals, as jails have become what Leonard described as "the drop zone for people suffering from mental illness." Leonard noted that Edwards exemplifies the program's core message: having a mental health crisis "doesn't define you."

Jack Forkey, an inmate present for the talk, reflected on the impact: "He is walking to the four corners of the United States to make people aware."

Edwards is on the final leg of his journey, which began in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and has taken him to Washington state, San Diego, California, the Grand Canyon, Utah, and Key West. He plans to complete his walk at West Quoddy Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine on October 25, 2026. He is also fundraising for Never Alone Recovery nonprofit as part of his effort.

Key players

• Kyndal Ray Edwards: Mental health advocate and cross-country walker; survivor of 11 incarcerations and two suicide attempts
• Sheriff Karl Leonard: Leader of Chesterfield County's HARP program; established the initiative in 2016
• Jack Forkey: Inmate participant in HARP program; reflected on Edwards' impact
• HARP program: Chesterfield County mental health and substance-use disorder recovery initiative for incarcerated individuals

Key dates

• 2026-10-25: Kyndal Ray Edwards plans to complete his 11,000-mile walk at West Quoddy Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine

Why it matters: The visit demonstrates the impact of peer mentorship and lived experience in mental health recovery, particularly for incarcerated populations who face higher rates of mental illness and substance-use disorder. Edwards' journey underscores that recovery from incarceration and mental health crises is possible, a message that resonates with Chesterfield's HARP program mission.

Places

• Chesterfield County Jail
• Jacksonville Beach Florida
• Washington state
• San Diego California
• Grand Canyon
• Utah
• Key West
• West Quoddy Lighthouse Lubec Maine

Related links

• Chesterfield County Jail Facilities

Read the original at Google News: Chesterfield County →

Sources

• Man walking 11,000 miles across America brings hope to Chesterfield inmates: 'Hold on, pain ends'
• 'You matter': Man makes stop in Chesterfield during trek across U.S. for mental health awareness