Joe Zeno is a 25 year old California man who got the idea for his cross-country hike from Relay for Life. He's raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society by walking about 3,200 miles. 105 days and 3 pairs of shoes into his walk, Joe Zeno has arrived in Springfield, Missouri. "It should take me just under 6 months to complete. I'm over half way now. Tulsa, Oklahoma was about my half way point," Zeno says.

He carries a 50 pound back-pack, that becomes even heavier with each bottle of water, a necessity on hot Ozarks days like this one. "I always leave very early in the morning, especially this time of year, because I can beat the heat. I try to get most of my mileage in before one or two in the afternoon, when it starts to get really hot," Zeno says.

To some, he may look like just another hitch-hiker. But take a closer look, and you'll see his sign. "Diners, gas stations; a lot of people are kinda interested," says Zeno. He is taking Big Steps to Beat Breast Cancer. It's a cause, that for him, hit close to home. "My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer over ten years ago now, so the cancer society has always been a big part of my life and her life," Zeno says.

So with his mom doing well, Zeno's goal is to help the American Cancer Society, with donations and simply awareness. Zeno says, "Just getting the word out about the cancer society and all that good things they do is really my main goal. I accomplish that by talking to as many people as I can along the way."

He'll stop to visit the American Cancer Society's Springfield office and catch a Cardinals game. Then Zeno will once again, hit the highway. "I'll head up to St. Louis, across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, then New York, and I'll be done," says Zeno.

Joe has a blog that you can read online-

For more information, click here.

The equipment he uses to update the website is part of the 50 pounds in his backpack. He also carries a tent and camps out many nights. But here in Springfield, he's found some places to stay indoors; he'll get a free stay at the Holiday Inn, in support of his cause.