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Petty Officer Trujillo is a changed man after two tours in Iraq. Last October, he started a non-profit organization called One Soldier's Dream.
To raise money and awareness for his cause, he embarked on a five month cross-country journey. He may be marching alone but he's doing it with a thousand other soldiers on his mind.
"I try not to get into my thoughts too much,” said Trujillo as he jogged down Route 11 in Christiansburg.
“I just focus on my breathing, my strides, and try to put in as many miles as I can.”
This is Petty Officer Thomas Trujillo’s 2,350 mile.
"This is the real deal," he said, out of breath.
Trujillo runs every mile in pain.
"This is brutal, very brutal. Painful. Daily. It just wears you down," he said seriously.
Two tours in Iraq left Trujillo one of the walking wounded.
"Ever since I’ve been back from Middle East, my teeth chatter all the time, I have nerve damage in my leg, it’s many things…" he trailed off.
Despite the pain and injury, he’s nearly done with a cross-country journey.
"This is actually the hardest part of the entire run. Mentally and physically your body just wants to shut down," Trujillo said of being just 250 miles short of his goal.
What keeps him going is his desire to raise money for all of the soldiers still on the front lines.
"Someone’s got to step up," he said.
To raise money for the soldier’s families left here at home.
"I can do it," he said determinedly. "Why give up now?"
And for veterans who've come home from war and are now homeless.
"Failure is not an option," Trujillo plainly stated.
Thirty percent of the money Trujillo’s non-profit takes in, goes to pay for costs, like an emergency flight home, for soldiers on the front lines. Thirty percent of the money goes to the families of soldiers, for things like emergency food or car/appliance repairs. Thirty percent of the money goes to helping homeless veterans. Trujillo hopes, one day, to have a veteran’s shelter in every major city.
