Sponsored skateboarder Skyler King has announced an ambitious trip that will see him travel from Oxford, Mississippi, to New York City on a skateboard while raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
King plans to leave Oxford Skatepark on August 1, 2026, and travel more than 1,100 miles, skating whenever he can and continuing on foot when the terrain or conditions require it.
He hopes to arrive in New York on or before September 3, the second anniversary of his brother Justin's death by suicide.
He has named the fundraiser "Push for Prevention," explaining that the trip is meant to honor his brother while encouraging people to have more open conversations about mental health.
According to King, Justin was the person who introduced him to skateboarding when he was young.
That early influence helped shape his life, making skateboarding something they shared together.
After graduating from the University of Mississippi and preparing to relocate to New York, King felt this was the right time to make the move in a meaningful way while remembering his brother.
King says one of his biggest goals is to encourage people to talk more openly about mental health and suicide prevention.
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He hopes more people will feel comfortable asking for help, seeing a therapist if they need one, and simply checking in with friends and family. He believes those conversations can make a real difference.
To keep costs down, King plans to spend most nights camping at public campgrounds.
Hotels will only be used when severe weather makes camping unsafe or when there are no camping options available.
He says he has tried to organize the trip as economically as he can while making safety a priority.
Donations will help cover the basic expenses needed throughout the trip.
Those costs include food, water, campground fees, occasional hotel stays, replacement skate shoes, skateboard equipment, emergency expenses, and documenting the experience through photos and videos.
King also shared that any money left after covering the trip's expenses will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and The Ben Raemers Foundation.
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Both organizations work to support mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
For those who want to help, King says there are several ways to get involved. Donations are appreciated, but sharing the fundraiser, following along on social media, or connecting him with people who may be able to offer a place to stay, a meal, or local advice during different parts of the trip would also mean a lot.
He plans to post regular updates throughout the trip on Facebook and Instagram whenever he has the opportunity.
Those updates will include photos, videos, and stories from the road so supporters can follow his progress from Mississippi all the way to New York.
Please donate now here.