During his last five-year stint in state prison, Kyndal Ray said he transitioned from a man with an addiction to a man on a mission.

Ray, 29, stopped in Kingfisher on his way to La Push, Wash., from Jacksonville, Fla. – on foot.

It’s a trek of about 3,200 miles and he estimates he’s about a third of the way there.

Dubbing his journey, “A Walking Testimony,” Ray, 29, is determined to draw attention to the country’s mental health and drug addiction crisis.

Ray should know about both – he’s struggled with both drug addiction an depression since age 15.

“That led to a life of crime and two suicide attempts,” he said. “Most of my adult life has been spent behind bars.”

But halfway through his last prison sentence for breaking and entering a known drug house, Ray took stock and decided to make some changes.

“I started working out and got healthier in mind, body and spirit,” he said.

“I read motivational books and started setting goals for myself and for where I wanted to be when I got out.”

He was released from prison in November and started making plans to accomplish his first goal – his cross-country testimonial tour which he began Jan. 1.

His primary motivation is displayed on one of the T-shirts he wears – the names of 180 people who lost their lives to either drug overdose or suicide.

Many of the names are people Ray knows personally; others are names recommended to him by friends or family members.

“My mission statement is if I can keep one person from putting a gun to their head or a needle in their arm then this walk will have been worthwhile,” he said.

An important part of Ray’s recovery has been the support of his family – his parents and sister – who have stood by him, even through the worst of his addiction.

“At one point when I was high, I beat up my dad and another time I broke into my sister’s car and stole the money she had saved for her honeymoon so I could buy drugs,” he said.

“Frankly, they had every reason to disown me many times, but they didn’t.

“I’m very grateful those relationships have been restored.”

Ray said he talks to his family every day on this journey, and all are planning to converge on LaPush to congratulate him when he completes his walk, hopefully sometime in October.

He’s also received support from a former youth pastor in Florida who now pastors a church in Oklahoma City.

Ray said he took a twoweeks stopover with the pastor and his family at their home in Oklahoma City.

He’s also been overwhelmed by the support of complete strangers, who have bought him meals and hotel rooms, covered him in prayer, messaged him on social media and stopped to encourage him on the side of the road.

To help raise awareness, Ray is chronicling his journey on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.

He’s also set up a Go-FundMe page and has pledged to donate 90% of the funds raised to two mental health and addition charities.

He’s already selected one charity and is asking for suggestions for the second, which he will then research before committing funds, he said.

Ray said he hopes to be an example to others that recovery and restoration are possible, no matter how dire circumstances may seem right now.

“I’m not proud of what I’ve done, but maybe I had to go through what I did to be where I am now,” he said.

“I’m out here just trying to shine a little light into the darkness.

“No matter how bleak your life may look now, there’s always hope.”

For more information, visit his Facebook, TikTok and Instagram accounts.