These singing veterans are challenging the world

From the tips of their unruly hair to the bottom of their trail- roughened feet, these boys are marketable. They sing, they dance and blend their voices in perfect three- part harmony, all in a Herculean effort to further their cause and generate more interest in this rapidly growing charity endeavor. They are Trek for Troops, comprised of Paul Rose, Matt Walker and Scott Williams.

Three young, college age men who started out just trying to think of something fun to do for the summer, and ended up with a fully sanctioned nonprofit business, replete with a website, a team of high school volunteers and massive responsibility. Trek for Troops has undertaken a gargantuan commitment and is operating under an umbrella charity called Homes for our Troops which build modified homes for veterans that come home wounded or handicapped from war, from missing limbs to lost senses. They attempt to help soldiers by easing the transition from warfare back to civilian life.  All proceeds from the Trek for Troops 2,600 mile hike goes directly to helping our wounded veterans.

Trek for Troops plans to hike the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which starts in Campo, one of the southern most towns along the Mexican border and spans all the way up to Manning Park, Canada. With an average goal of 25 miles a day and a potential pack mule (if its male, it’ll be named Magellan, and if its female, it’ll be named Esmerelda) to carry some weight, the trip will take about four months in its entirety, nothing but sleeping in tents and “enjoying ourselves to death in one of the most beautiful places” says 22 year old Walker.

The idea is to maintain ultra light back packing status, which means carrying nothing more than what you absolutely need and re-supplying as you go. Their extensive planning includes a list of re-supply towns that are spanned across California, Oregon and Washington, where volunteers working with the local Rotary Clubs of Westlake Village and Newbury Park, will have supplies and a shower waiting for them. After days of hiking nonstop and living in the wilderness, these boys are going to need one.

Despite these tough financial times, 22 year old Rose observes, “Even more so in economic hardship, people realize all the things we do have, all the basic luxuries that we take for granted. It tends to help rather than hinder, the general public is willing to give, even if it’s just a dollar. If every American gave $1, that would be 300 million dollars”. This is a story of three average joes, going out and instead of just talking, actually being the change they want to see in the world and deciding to make a difference. From the beginning, they realized the massive potential this presented, but they never knew how big it would get, and how much there is to come.

Though they have no specific sponsors, they are in talks with different sports and hiking outfitter companies to donate the different gear they will need for the journey, and they’ve also generated some interest in some production companies and there have been murmurs about a reality show in the works. Other companies have cut them breaks for their merchandise, t-shirts and beanies, which nicely supplement their donations.

Trek for Troops has made many appearances to raise awareness and funds, they sing and speak at events as much as possible, from little league to clubs and basically, anybody who will listen. They host restaurant benefit nights at local establishments, where they perform for entertainment and 15% of every bill goes as a donation to Homes for our Troops. A new fundraising idea they’ve been kicking around is “flamingo flocking”, where they place a pink plastic flamingo on neighborhood lawns with a friendly little note that requests a small donation in exchange for the removal of the garish decoration.

The general response has been receptive, 23 year old Williams says, “I love this cause because every time we speak, everyone seems engaged because were talking about our vets. Americans love our veterans, the men and women who are just like us, who chose to serve and defend this country, and I’m proud to stand with them”. Williams served in the US Navy and spent time in Iraq and other foreign countries, which fuels his desire to help these veterans that sacrificed their bodies and their minds for the protection of our country.

With such a formidable task ahead of them, their families are feeling the impending absence as the day draws closer. It is with a mixture of pride, fear, anxiety, and most of all, support that these families are embracing this venture. They have raised a little over $11 thousand for Homes for our Troops and another $3 thousand for Trek for Troops trip costs, though they hope to raise over $100 thousand when all is said and done.

Realistically, they recognize that this might not happen, but they remain ever optimistic, “It has major potential, and we all really want it to happen so we are going to make it happen. Anything is possible, when you set your mind to it”, Walker says fervently.

Its been extremely hard for them to make the transition from being laid back college students to having such responsibility and a rapidly growing charitable response. They’ve created quite a buzz, which has thrust them into to the local limelight. From being recognized while jogging on the streets to being stopped in grocery stores, the trek has changed the very fiber of their daily lives. They went from having oodles of free time for little things like hobbies and hanging out with friends, to filling every waking moment with training, performances, school and a constant stream of communication to keep people updated and involved.

In the upcoming months, some charity events we can look forward to are a classic Mustang Car show, put on by the Mustang Club and a golf tournament that is being hosted by the Sunset Hills Country Club. Along with tons of appearances in local venues, they will also be assisting with other charities, and performing at the Gala for Music Makes the Heart, an organization for open heart surgery and kids with congenital heart disease.

To get involved, just go to  www.trekfortroops.com and sign up for the volunteer and mailing list or search the volunteer section for staff positions, and people needed for press releases and correspondence. For more information on anything of interest, visit their website to get involved, all they ask for is time or money.

The biggest challenges for them have been the loss of sleep, the harried schedules and most of all, the complete self sacrifice that this epic journey has required. Having never been geared towards business, this adjustment has been completely life altering for Rose, who says, “I’m not a business man, and I never wanted to be. All I wanted to do was hike and raise some money, but it’s become so much more than that. I’m glad for what were doing, it’s for a great cause so it’s worth it, and that’s the whole point.”