From Maine to McCook: Walking Across America to Raise Awareness for Addiction Prevention

McCOOK, Neb. — A young man with a mission will pass through McCook this week, carrying not only a backpack but also a message of health, resilience, and hope in the fight against addiction.

Andy Kaucic, known online as Andy’s Ventures, began his walk five months ago on a beach in Maine. Since then, he’s traveled down the East Coast through Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., before turning west across the mountains and into the Midwest. His route will take him through McCook on Friday, then onward to Denver and, eventually, San Diego.

“I wanted to do something before jumping into school that was productive for society and would challenge me,” Andy said during an interview while walking toward Indianola on Wednesday. “This felt like the best way to test my limits while also doing some good.”

A recent college graduate with a degree in health promotion and health equity, Andy originally planned to go to medical school. Instead, he chose a cross-country trek as a way to reflect on his future while making an impact. He’s exploring holistic health and wellness—fields that match his concern about the overuse of prescription opioids—and sharing science-based insights and personal reflections through weekly vlogs on YouTube.

His walk is also a fundraiser for SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic), a national nonprofit that works to prevent overdose deaths through education, treatment, recovery support, and stigma reduction. While Andy says he doesn’t have a personal family story of addiction, the people he meets often do.

“Especially here in Nebraska, people are picking up on the fact that I’m doing this for addiction awareness,” he said. “Everybody’s been impacted by it in one way or another.”

The road hasn’t been without challenges—extreme weather, a bear outside his tent, and a day he ran out of water after being unable to reach a river. On average, Andy covers 15 to 20 miles a day, rotating between pairs of walking shoes to extend their life. His family, initially nervous about the idea, now follows his progress online and plans to meet him in Denver.

One of his most memorable moments came in Nebraska, when a couple offered him shelter ahead of a storm with forecasted 90-mile-per-hour winds. “I was expecting to be in my tent all night,” he said. “Instead, I got to sleep in a recliner under a roof. People’s kindness keeps me going.”

Andy will spend Thursday night in Indianola before arriving in McCook. He encourages residents to stop and say hello, share their own stories, or follow his journey on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok under Andy’s Ventures. Donations to SAFE Project can be made through his GoFundMe page.

“Walking across the country has been amazing so far,” he said. “I’m over halfway to my $10,000 goal for SAFE Project, and I’m excited to keep going—one step at a time.”

Donate- gofundme.com/f/SAFEProject

Instagram- instagram.com/andys__ventures

TikTok- tiktok.com/@andykaucic

Facebook- facebook.com/andy.kaucic7

You Tube- www.youtube.com/@AndysVentures