New Jersey man's cross-country trek reaches Eastern Iowa

After four unsuccessful attempts over the past 13 years, a Livingston, N.J. man is approaching his halfway point as he travels through Eastern Iowa on his fifth attempt to cross the United States from the East Coast to California-- on foot.

Though his back aches from carrying his 55-pound backpack, and he suffers from bouts with severe shin splints, Jim Hickey continues to push himself forward on his walk in the hope that his journey will help raise awareness of prostate cancer and other chronic health conditions.

"I literally saw my dad die in front of my eyes because of prostate cancer, and six months later my brother was diagnosed with it," Hickey said. "Luckily my brother survived, but after seeing them suffer, I knew there was something I had to do."

In 1998, Hickey decided that the best "something" he could do to help the cause was to walk across the country. Although he admits that he believed his idea was "a little crazy," he sold his car, quit his job, and headed out. Over the next three years and three months, he would walk a total of 2,154 miles.

"I made it all the way to Clovis, N.M., but at that point I the support team I needed to help me cross the desert and mountains fell through," Hickey said. "I didn't want to end up like a Georgia O'Keeffe [skull] painting."

On his next attempt, Hickey walked 2,282 miles from Washington D.C. to Denver, Colo. before returning home to take care of his ailing mother. Once her condition improved, he set out again,  but Hickey only made it 705 miles before heading home.

"My mom passed away," Hickey said. "It was the biggest blow because I wanted her to see me finish so bad -- she was my biggest supporter."

Hickey's fourth attempt starting out of Charlotte, North Carolina didn't go much better.

Now that he is on his fifth attempt, which began on April 2, 2010, Hickey says that sometimes curious onlookers who have heard about him or want to know how to help organizations will walk alongside him.

"People need to know I don't accept donations for the organizations I support," Hickey said. "They should make donations directly to those organizations -- I'm just here to raise awareness."

Although Hickey says that he most often receives positive feedback from the people he meets while on the road, he has had things thrown at him from car windows and is often heckled.

"If I had a dime for every time I've been called Forrest Gump, I'd be a rich man," Hickey said. "But I don't mind, because that was the last movie my father and I watched together."

Over the next month, Hickey, who declined to give his specific age, hopes to remain in the Interstate 380 Corridor to rest.

He also hopes to find temporary employment to help fund the remainder of his his trip when he cannot find a place to stay or a meal to eat through his network of past supporters. If that does not happen, Hickey says that he have to continue moving forward.

"Sometimes my body is saying 'this is it,' but I have to keep going," Hickey said. "There are a people going through a lot of pain [because of chronic diseases and conditions], and they can't quit, so how can I?"

Citizens interested in helping Hickey or sending him a well wish may do so by contacting him via Facebook at www.facebook.com/nevergiveup or emailing him at walkinghickey@yahoo.com.

Hickey asks that individuals donate directly to cancer research non-profits City of Hope or Cure Search,  the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis or the Arthritis Foundation.