After four months out west bringing awareness to cancer research, Mike Garland of Becker has returned home.

 

Saturday, hundreds of Mike’s most faithful followers stood along Pine Street outside of Beck’s Pub and hailed their hero as Garland walked up to the masses while being escorted by Becker Police.

Mike was dressed in a tan shirt, brown army shorts, a greenish-brown ball cap, sunglasses and his humongous backpack slung over his shoulders. His hair was noticeably long as well as his facial hair and his belt on his waist was cinched up a few notches to hold his khaki shorts up.

 

“I have lost 44 pounds, four inches on my waist size and aged 25 years,” Mike said with a smile on his tired face.

 

Most of Mike’s well-wishers Saturday were wearing orange t-shirts that read, “Becker Relay For Life American Cancer Society July 22nd, 2016 — Mike+You=Cure.”

 

Garland’s welcome included hugs from family, reunion with his family and an endless round of handshakes, pats on the back and hugs from old and new friends.

 

Mike’s trek to walk the Pacific Coast Trail began in April and he completed it Sept. 7. He walked over 2,800 miles through deserts, mountains, glaciers and rivers and raised over $16,000 for the American Cancer Society through Becker’s Relay For Life.

 

Of the south-to-north trail Mike walked upon, Garland says the first third of the trail was the most challenging.

 

“It was mostly mountains and lots of desert,” he said. “I had to carry along about six liters of water just to stay hydrated. That was tough.”

 

Mike reached heights of up to 14,500 feet (Mt. Whitney) and even had to ford through high waters, traverse brush and natural debris and walk through snow and ice as he went through countless levels of elevation and temperatures in his quest to raise money for cancer study and bring awareness to the cause.

 

“I met all kinds of people along the trail including people from Germany, England and Australia, which gave me lots of opportunity to tell my story,” said Garland. “That’s what was really important. Not just doing the walk for the cause but telling people about why I am doing this.”

 

Mike decided two years ago to get “more involved” in Relay For Life in honor of his father, grandfather, uncle and friends and family lost to the disease over the years. Last year, Mike biked his way from becker to the west coast (3,800 miles) and raised well over $11,000 for the cause.

 

Mike lost seven toenails and has huge callouses on the balls of his feet from the PCT walk. His back aches and his legs are just getting used to bearing “normal” weight since he got back and most of the blisters he withstood have healed. Was it all worth it?

 

“I’d do it again but only for this reason,” Mike said. “The cause is just too important to ever say, ‘no’”.

 

Of the 4,000 people who signed up to do the PCT trail this year, only 600-700 ever complete it.

 

“Most of the people who do the trail, bow out after a few hundred miles or so,” said Mike. “The extremes can be too much for some and there have been some who have died along the trail due to dehydration and heat stroke. It’s not something for the weak.”

 

Mike averaged about a “marathon’s-worth” of miles a day (25-30) and stayed in his tent most of the time, but also had the opportunity to sleep in better accommodations from strangers and friends when he ventured off the trail to gather supplies. He also had family come visit him during the walk and had cousins and grandkids join him for part of the trek to keep him company.

 

“That meant a lot to me,” Mike said.

 

At Saturday’s welcome home event, Mike’s family held a raffle for one lucky person to give Mike a shave and a haircut — with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. The caveat was Mike would have his head shaved if the money raised reached $500.

 

The raffle brought in $1,076 and Mike’s head and face were shaved down to the skin.

 

Mike and his family plan to take all his photos and videos he took along the way and put them into a slide show so he can start holding speaking engagements at area schools, telling the youth about his experiences and hopeful inspiring them to carry the torch.

 

Mike also has it in mind to write a book about his two treks and may be looking around to find a professional to help make that happen.

 

Mike wants to thank all his followers and all their support as well as his daughter, Missy, who was his contact back home during the walk and his grandkids and family members who walked with him or held lemonade stands to continue the cause.

 

“I’m passionate about this cause not just because my dad passed away from the disease. Not just because my uncle passed away from the disease. But because all others have passed away from the disease,” Mike said. “Raising awareness is more important than just raising money.”