RIDING ACROSS AMERICA, FOR P.T.S.D. - KOAM TV 7

RIDING ACROSS AMERICA, FOR P.T.S.D.

Some ride their bikes for exercise, Tom Skinner rides for a cause. Post traumatic stress disorder.

Tom Skinner says, "I want to show people that I'm not weak I have ptsd, I have service ready ptsd but I just bicycled all the way to Missouri from San Diego California I rode 18 hundred miles on my bicycle".

Skinner served in the Army for 7 1/2 years.

To help raise awareness for something so close to his heart, Skinner decided to ride from California to Vermont , raising money and speaking to others about what his journey has been like.

Tom Skinner says, "I've had 7 flat tires along the way".

Currently riding through Missouri, Skinner decided to make a pit stop in Joplin. When Army veteran Terry Kaas found out about the ride, he decided to meet Skinner and follow him throughout the state, just in case he needs anything.

Terry Kaas says, "I'm also an army veteran and I have ptsd myself since 1996 so in understanding these things, I understand where he's coming from and the mission he's on".

That Skinner isn't the only one suffering from anxiety and that there is help out there.

"We have 18 veterans on average a day committing suicide from ptsd" says Skinner.

Even though Skinner has met many friends across the way, he couldn't ride without his best friend Scrubs .

"I've had several people over the last four days that have said, oh you have to go talk to my son, I'm going to call him and have him come right back, it's those people that I make a difference for, I may not be able to change my past but I can change the future for a lot of veterans and show them the resources that are out there" says Skinner.