BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. \u2013 A Mississippi man is skateboarding over a thousand miles all the way to New York City to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.<\/p>\n
69 News caught up with him in Bucks County Thursday night.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 1, Sky King left his home in Oxford, Mississippi, with his skateboard, his backpack and a mission.<\/p>\n
“I’m skateboarding 1,100 miles from Oxford, Mississippi, to New York City to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention,” King said.<\/p>\n
It’s a cause he says is close to his heart.<\/p>\n
“It’s in honor of my brother Justin that passed away,” King said.<\/p>\n
His brother took his own life in 2024.<\/p>\n
King says it was Justin who gave him his love of skateboarding.<\/p>\n
“He was a jack of all trades. He could like ride rollerblades and bikes and skateboards and just super active and liked to venture out,\u201d King said. \u201cI think if he were here, he’d be right alongside me and want to do the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
King now has less than 100 miles on his trip to go, and he says it’s been quite the journey.<\/p>\n
“I wake up in a new town every day,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels good, you know, being on the road and running into people that, they’re curious what I’m doing and so they stop me, and we end up having these really meaningful, heartfelt conversations,” says King.<\/p>\n
He says he hopes his ride can break the stigma surrounding mental health and let others know that they’re not alone \u2014 one mile at a time.<\/p>\n
King is also raising money along the way for organizations that raise awareness and support for mental health.<\/p>\n