ON A JOURNEY — Eli Smith, a U.S. Army veteran from Ashville, Ohio, made a stop in Weirton Tuesday while on a journey around the country to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide in the nation’s military veterans. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — It is estimated that approximately 20 veterans in the United States commit suicide each day, many as the result of post traumatic stress disorder.

Eli Smith wants to find a way to lower those numbers while raising awareness, and currently is on a journey around the United States doing just that.

The U.S. Army veteran from Ashville, Ohio, stopped in Weirton Tuesday, visiting with area veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 2716 Post and discussing his mission.

“I lost a couple guys I served with to suicide and PTSD,” Smith explained, noting he didn’t really have a plan when he started, he just knew he wanted to do something to help.

“I sold everything I had to get this started,” Smith said, noting he gave his cats to a neighbor, and what he didn’t sell he donated to charity. “Everything I have is on that bike.”

The trip started in November 2016 with a flight to Pensacola, Fla., from where Smith began walking west toward San Diego. That first leg took about 3 1/2 months, going from Floria, west to California and then north to Washington.

After taking a break, and getting a bicycle, Smith began the second leg, traveling from Nevada, back to Washington and then east and returning home to Ashville by winter. The third, and final, leg began Friday, with plans to travel up to Maine and then end up in Florida. All told, Smith will have visited 42 states in approximately three years.

Any donations he receives during his journey go back to assisting those who have served their country.

“The funds I get go to the veterans,” he said, noting he often donates to veterans organizations, purchases food for veterans in nursing homes and other care facilities.

The trip has been a benefit to many, he said, as he has received word from some of the veterans he’s met along the way, including some he said were contemplating suicide, thanking him for spreading the message.

“I’ve received 19 letters and several messages,” he said. “It’s literally saving lives.”

The journey hasn’t always been positive, though. Smith explained he was kidnapped in Texas, had a bounty placed on his head by a gang in San Diego, suffered heat stroke, has been hit by cars and robbed at gunpoint.

Smith said the important thing is to focus on the message, however, working to raise awareness of PTSD in the nation’s military and assisting those who have served.

“It’s grown into something so much bigger than I thought,” he said.

To continue following Smith’s journey, search for 4cornershike on Facebook or Instagram.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)