PHOTO COURTESY OF KGUN 9 Tucson resident Jake Vernon will spend the next three months traveling approximately 2,652 miles from Santa Monica, Calif. to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness for paralysis.

On the first day of summer, many Wildcats are taking time out to relax from hectic school and work schedules. Others have taken the initiative to get a jump on their degree by adding a few summer classes. In the end, almost everyone will have something to show for their time off.

Jake Vernon, a resident of Tucson and future UA student is no different. He has chosen to take a different path, one of hard work and dedication.

The distance from Santa Monica, Calif. to Washington, D.C. is approximately 2,652 miles. For most, this trip would take a few hours by air or a few days by car.

According to Vernon, this journey will take about three months for him to complete because he will be traveling by wheelchair.

This endeavor was coordinated by Vernon and several of his close friends with advice from the information specialists at the Christopher Reeves Paralysis Resource Center.

Information provided by Vernon about his proposed itinerary has him traveling 48 miles per day for a 10-hour day at a rate of one mile every 10 minutes.

On this course, he will go through 13 states and more than 50 cities. Information provided by weather.com shows he will encounter a variety of potentially dangerous situations.

With thunderstorm warnings in the Southwest, severe storm warnings in the Midwest, above average temperatures across the country, and tornado watches in effect for the flatland states, Vernon has quite a few obstacles to overcome.

With a variety of traffic, weather, and unknown conditions waiting ahead, Vernon has already begun his mission to help raise awareness for paralysis and was unavailable for comment at time of press.