Tennessee Man Walks 444 Miles to Raise Awareness for God, Homeless

A Tennesee man has completed his mission of walking 444 miles to raise awareness for God and the homeless.

Troy Waugh of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee has been walking from dawn until dusk along the Natchez Trace Parkway from Mississippi to Nashville since late June, working toward his goal of reaching 444 miles and raising awareness for the U.S.'s homeless population.

"Really, it's just about, more than anything, following what God told me to do," Waugh, who turns 70 in the coming days, told The Tennessean in a recent interview. "It's a break from the past to go to the future."

Waugh is walking to raise awareness and money for Community Care Fellowship, a ministry dedicated to helping the homeless and located in Nashville.

Waugh's inspirational story parallels a similar mission being carried out by a veteran of the U.S. Army, Elizabeth Poles, who has been spotted trekking across multiple southern states while wearing flowing black robes.

Poles' presence caused a media sensation regarding the woman's purpose for traversing Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Although little is known about the woman, she is reportedly a devout Christian who recently ended her walk in Winchester, Virginia, where she was raised.

The woman told the local police station that she would like to be left alone and that all donations by those following her journey should be forwarded to local homeless shelters in Winchester.

"The Winchester Police Department wants local residents to know that she will be part of the community and to respect her privacy if you see her in the area," a statement from the police station read.