NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. – More than a month after leaving Mississippi with a skateboard and backpack, Skyler King is closing in on New Jersey during a 1,100-mile journey dedicated to his late brother and a message he hopes people along the way will remember: talk about mental health.
King left Oxford, Mississippi, on Aug. 1 and is making his way toward New York City primarily by skateboard, traveling on foot when necessary. His remaining route includes North Brunswick and Newark before an anticipated arrival in New York on Sept. 10, World Suicide Prevention Day.
- King began the more than 1,100-mile trip in Oxford, Mississippi, on Aug. 1 and has already covered hundreds of miles.
- He is making the journey in memory of his brother Justin, who died by suicide on Sept. 3, 2024.
- King is raising money while supporting suicide-prevention efforts and encouraging people to speak more openly about mental health.
King’s route has taken him through Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and into the Mid-Atlantic. Along the way, he says strangers have stopped to offer everything from food and water to places to sleep — and, just as importantly, to tell him their own stories.
A Skateboard Journey Inspired by His Brother
For King, skateboarding and his brother are closely connected.
Justin introduced him to the sport when he was young, and King went on to spend the past decade competing and skating with sponsorships.
Justin died by suicide on Sept. 3, 2024.
After graduating from the University of Mississippi and preparing to move to New York, King saw an opportunity to make that transition differently. Instead of simply traveling north, he decided to turn the trip into a memorial to his brother and a public conversation about suicide prevention.
“The purpose of this trip is to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention in honor of my brother Justin,” King wrote when launching the fundraiser.
Most nights have been spent camping, with occasional hotel stays when weather, safety or the lack of a suitable camping location makes that necessary.
The road has also brought unexpected experiences. In one update, King described hiking part of the Appalachian Trail, encountering two black bears and getting caught in a heavy thunderstorm.
But the people he has encountered have become just as important to the journey.
King said strangers have approached him after seeing the skateboard and backpack, asked what he was doing and then opened up about their own experiences with mental health and suicide.
“Those conversations are reminders of why I’m doing this,” he wrote.
North Brunswick and Newark Among Final Stops
King is now entering the final stretch of the trip.
His planned route includes stops in Pennsylvania at Columbia, Narvon, Phoenixville and Huntingdon Valley before crossing into New Jersey.
From there, King plans to travel through North Brunswick Township and Newark before finishing in New York City.
The exact timing of each stop could change depending on weather, road conditions and the physical demands of traveling hundreds of miles by skateboard and on foot.
King initially hoped to reach New York by Sept. 3, the second anniversary of Justin’s death. As the trip progressed, he slowed his pace rather than rush the final miles.
“One month down and 800 miles behind me,” King wrote in a recent update.
If the remaining journey goes according to plan, he now expects to reach New York on Sept. 10.
That date carries its own significance: World Suicide Prevention Day.
Journey Raises Money for Suicide Prevention
King’s trip is also a fundraiser.
As of Saturday morning, his GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $10,000 toward a $20,000 goal, with more than 140 donations.
The money is helping cover necessities such as food, hydration, campground fees, occasional hotel stays and emergency expenses during the journey.
King says any money remaining after the trip will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and The Ben Raemers Foundation, an organization focused on mental health and suicide prevention within skateboarding.
His larger goal, however, isn’t measured only in dollars.
“This journey is about encouraging more open conversations around mental health,” King wrote. “My hope is to help break the stigma surrounding mental health by reminding people that it’s okay to ask for help, see a therapist, and check in on one another.”
For King, those conversations have been happening one town at a time.
New Jersey Is Part of the Final Push
King’s expected arrival in New Jersey gives residents along his route an opportunity to spot him during the final leg of a journey that began more than 1,000 miles away.
He continues posting updates from the road as his route and schedule develop.
After North Brunswick and Newark, only the final push into New York remains.
And after more than a month of skating, walking, camping and talking with strangers, reaching the city on World Suicide Prevention Day would bring King to the end of a physical journey built around something much larger.
The skateboard that his brother helped introduce him to is now carrying Justin’s memory across the country.
Skyler King is expected to travel through New Jersey before reaching New York City.
His planned final stops include North Brunswick Township and Newark, although his schedule may change as the trip progresses.
The 1,100-mile journey honors King’s late brother Justin.
Justin introduced Skyler to skateboarding when he was young and died by suicide on Sept. 3, 2024.
King hopes to finish the journey on World Suicide Prevention Day.
He is currently aiming to reach New York City on Sept. 10 while continuing to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention.
Sources: Skyler King’s GoFundMe campaign and trip updates; information provided by King’s outreach team.
