Man ends 30,000 mile walking journey in Oakland

A Florida man ended a 12-year odyssey, fueled by a family tragedy, Saturday in Oakland.

Steve Fugate, 65, of Florida ended his 30,000-mile nationwide trek Saturday.

"This is my sixth and final walk, and I've walked in all the lower 48 states," he said.

Fugate lost his son to suicide in 1999 and it nearly destroyed him.

"I didn't want this happening to other parents," he said.

So, in 2001, the grieving father set out to send a message of loving life and people from all over the country followed.

"And there have been many who said they were gonna take their life or were contemplating it, and they decided not to," he said.

In the Oakland hills, a woman ran out of her home just to hug Fugate. Julie Moran lost her dad to suicide 20 years ago.

"My boys just happened to be looking out our window and said, 'mom, come here you gotta' see this, and I'm just so.. it's serendipity maybe that he just happened to walk by my house," Moran said.

Fugate decided to end his labor of love in Oakland after meeting an Oakland man on his odyssey.

The two connected and kept in touch.

On Fugate's final steps, his final advice: "I believe I get back what I put out. I just love everybody."