DAUPHIN ISLAND — This is Kyndal Edwards, and he is walking across America for mental health awareness, one step at a time.

Edwards is known for his social media page, "A Walking Testimony," and as of this writing, he has amassed 8,170 miles in his walk across the country, having always dreamed of walking across the United States. He has been open about his past and his road to recovery, having spent time in county jail 11 times and twice in prison. However, during his second time in prison, something clicked, and he began to change for the better. He is now over six years drug-free.

Following his release from prison, Edwards said, he was in the best shape of his life, and with a little money saved up, he decided to walk for mental health awareness.

"Every day on social media, somebody was posting about another loss of life due to an overdose, suicide, mental health issues and recovery struggles. As somebody who has tried to take my own life and overdosed in county jail and in prison, I'm a firm believer that my past does not define me," Edwards said.

His travels began in Jacksonville, Florida, on Jan. 1, 2022, when he walked 3,292 miles across 13 states to the West Coast, ending up in Long Beach, Washington, in 2023. Since September of last year, he has started the second part of his coast-to-coast journey, which included stops in Utah, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and Texas. His trip now brings him to the beaches of Alabama, where he passed through Bayou La Batre before making a stop in Dauphin Island.

"The Southern hospitality down here is real, real strong," Edwards said. "A lot of good food. A lot of amazing people. [Dauphin Island is] a little hidden gem that I'd never heard of until just a couple of weeks ago. I've been treated so well. The weather's been really good for me. The bugs haven't been too bad, and I heard they can get pretty bad out here, so everything's going great for me in Alabama right now, for sure."

During his walk, Edwards has had the opportunity to talk to locals about his mission, with people sharing their own stories of mental and physical struggles. He regularly does meet-and-greets and stops by local businesses, sharing his daily experiences on his social media page, which currently has over 121,000 followers on Facebook.

He also sells merchandise he carries in his stroller, such as wristbands and stickers. He also sells "remembrance shirts," which include the names of 180 people who have died as a result of mental health or addiction struggles. All the proceeds help support his journey across America.

"People have been stopping and sharing their stories with me a lot," Edwards said. "A lot of people have been affected in negative ways — losing people, struggling with their own battles — but many have shared their recovery stories as well, and it's so inspiring."

After a brief stay in Dauphin Island, Edwards plans to board the ferry and head to Fort Morgan, where he will continue his walk, passing through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach before heading into Florida. He encourages anyone who happens to run into him to stop and say hello, and those interested in his journey can follow him on "A Walking Testimony."

He also encourages those to donate to the nonprofit Addict II Athelete, dedicated to mental health awareness, recovery and education for athletes.