On Thursday, Iraqi War veteran Gunnar Swanson came to the end of his 1,000-mile journey.
Ten weeks ago, the former soldier set out on foot from Dallas, Texas, accompanied in an RV by Dina Fesler, a Dennison resident and director of Northfield-based charity War Kids Relief.
His goal: to raise money to build a youth rehabilitation center in Iraq and a vocational training program in Afghanistan by walking across the country.
Together, the pair covered roughly 15 miles a day, stopping frequently to speak to youth at YMCAs, schools, hospitals and youth groups along their route. Through the fundraiser, called "A Soldier's March for Peace," Swanson and Fesler were able to raise roughly $20,000 toward their open-ended goal of $100,000.
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