Jerry Meadows, 61, might be older and he might have to deal with an oxygen tank, but that is not stopping him from walking from Marshalltown to Jacksonville, Fla. – a 1,245-mile trek.

Meadows is not a native of Marshalltown. He is actually from Tucumari, N.M., but he and his wife, Virginia, have established a central command in Marshalltown until Feb. 1. In a hotel room until then, the husband and wife team are planning the next phase of the walking journey, which is raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project was established in 2003 as a division of the United Spinal Association of New York. Initially it provided backpacks filled with comfort items to wounded service members. In 2005, the organization was given a $2.7 million grant to become a stand-alone charity. Wounded Warrior assists injured veterans and their families through finding benefits, providing mental health support and physical wellness, providing support for families and more.

The family support is a big reason why Meadows wanted to raise money for the program.

Contributed photos The Road Walker — Jerry Meadows — has had many people stop him as he walked to tell him about their support. From a police officer bringing him a cinnamon roll to children looking to shake his hand, Meadows keeps walking toward Jacksonville, Fla.

“The divorce rate in this country is terrible, like 50/50,” he said. “When a soldier comes back missing an arm that divorce rate is increased by 30 percent to 80 percent. Wounded Warrior recognized that and they are the only ones with programs that brings families into recovery also.”

Meadows already knows that upon his Feb. 1 departure, he will travel 160 miles on Highway 30 before taking another break. On a good day, Meadows said he is able to travel anywhere from 12 to 16 miles before resting for the night.

Virginia will follow behind him in the van and provide needed support and aide.

“Going two miles per hour sucks,” Virginia said, laughing. “When he walked from Sisseton to Aberdeen (both in South Dakota), it was so hot that he stopped walking on the road and I dumped a gallon of water onto him.”

The South Dakota journey was made this last summer.

In March, he walked from Bemidji, Minn. to St. Paul, Minn. He wanted to bring some positive attention to the Bemidji area, which is why he chose that as the starting location. Meadows was already familiar with it since he had frequently visited friends there.

Not only will Marshalltown provide a much needed rest area for the veteran walker team, but the Meadows’ will also ride out some of the harsh Midwest winters in a safe, non-icy and unfrozen space. Their holidays will be spent with one another in their Marshalltown hotel room.

When the couple leave Marshalltown on Feb. 1 and people want to track where they are on the trek to Jacksonville, Meadows said people can just give him a call at 641-328-3484. He also appreciates people who stop while he is walking.

To donate to Meadows’ journey, go online to https://bit.ly/2XK9SBf. The page carries the name “Road Walker” which Meadows said he has unofficially been nicknamed. So far, $11,810 have been raised.

“Someone stopped and told me to get in, that he would drive me 50 miles,” Meadows said. “I told him no. He said, ‘No one will know.’ I told him, ‘I would know and so would the veterans.’ He told me that was a good answer and wrote a check for $1,000. There have been kids who jumped out of a van, ran to me, shook my hand and thanked me for my service. They have no clue what war is or things like that are, so you can tell the parents are raising them right.”

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.