The Focus Marine Foundation has been proudly following former graduate, Joshua Ploetz, as he bravely canoes the 2,575 mile journey from Lake Itasca down to the Gulf of Mexico.  He is calling his trek “Paddle Off the War” and he aims to raise awareness and support for veterans with post-traumatic stress.  Nearing the end of his trip, Cpl. Ploetz has come across unexpected support.

“Ploetz was surprised July 25, 2014 when he paddled around the turn at Algiers Point and was greeted by a large group of Marines, sailors, veterans and family members waiting on the shore of the Mississippi to cheer him on.”

Read the full article from MilitarySpot here.

Follow Cpl. Ploetz’s journey on his official website, and offer support on his Facebook page.