A New Jersey man has completed what he calls the “trip of a lifetime.” Tommy Pasquale of Randolph, New Jersey, walked from the Atlantic to the Pacific, covering nearly 3,000 miles, in 143 days..

And Pasquale gave himself the goal of traveling from Manasquan, New Jersey, to Venice Beach, California, to raise funds and awareness for the issues of homeless veterans in America, as Pasquale has many veterans and active-duty military in his own department, according to the American New York Post.

Pasquale raised about $100,000

During his trip, Pascual raised approximately $97,935 for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, which is based in Washington, D.C., Pascual told Fox News in an interview. “I have nothing but respect and appreciation for what veterans do for this country,” he said. Just thinking about them coming home after their service and vagrancy doesn’t suit me.”

Pascual, who turned 25 on February 13, finally made it to Venice Beach on February 17, and there, his friends and family met him at the “finish line.”

Tommy is at the finish line with his friends

The trip took about 5 months

“I hate to admit it,” he said. “It felt so accomplished, I felt so comfortable.” The nearly five-month journey took less time than Pasquale had anticipated. At first he predicted he would reach California by April, and added that near the end of his journey, he was walking from 25 to 30 miles a day with fewer rest days in between.

He said the many miles he covered while pushing his shopping cart full of essentials had damaged 10 pairs of shoes, due to walking long distances.