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ESCANABA - An English man who is crossing the country by foot to raise funds and support for hospice care stopped in Escanaba Wednesday. He met with local hospice workers before continuing on his journey.

Colin Skinner, a 43-year-old molecular biologist from England, looked surprisingly fresh-faced when he stopped on the roadside of M-35. He said he was heading into town to give a presentation to Marquette General Health and Hospice and OSF Hospice officials before continuing on his journey.

Skinner's non-motorized trip began in New York City on Aug. 22. He has walked 1,260 miles to get to Escanaba, visiting close to 100 hospice facilities on his way, and chronicling his journey on the National Hospice Foundation Web site. When he reaches his final destination in Minot, N.D., on Nov. 17, he will have logged close to 2,500 miles.

Wearing a sign on his backpack that reads, "Walking for Hospice Care," Skinner spreads his message to passersby, and others he meets along the way.

"My message is that there are hospices out there to help people with serious illnesses, but hospices need help too," said Skinner. "They need volunteers and support from the local community, so they can take care of as many people as possible."

Skinner spends his nights with host families, and in hospice residential units where he has been able to meet with patients.

"I've seen the care they're being given and it's wonderful," he said. "At one place, a lady said she was able to forget she was ill while she was there."

However, not all hospices have the resources to provide adequate care - something Skinner witnessed first-hand. It was while working as a hospice orderly 21 years ago, that his interest in the cause was sparked.

"I saw people who were away from their family and friends and not given the best care," he said. "Then in 2003 my mother died from pancreatic cancer and she didn't have hospice care. What I want to do is get as much support for hospice as I possibly can."

Skinner said his current journey is dedicated to his mother.

This is the second time Skinner has walked across North America. In 1988, he made the 6,000 mile journey from New York to San Francisco, and in November 2010 he plans to return to the United States to continue the cross-country journey that will end in March 2011 in San Francisco.

During his trips, Skinner has experienced a variety of physical conditions, from collapsing from heat exhaustion in 105 degree weather to such frigid temperatures that icicles hung from his beard. However, the pain and exhaustion is replaced by the gratification he gets when meeting a hospice patient who reminds him why he has committed himself to this cause.

"There was one man in his 80s, who was a patient, and he wanted to try on my backpack, which sometimes weighs between 40 to 50 pounds. The nurses were worried about him trying it on, but he put it on and walked around with this big smile on his face...to know you can make a difference like that is a great feeling," he said.

"Hospice is about making the most of the life you have left, and having good quality care," he added. "It's about making the time you have left as good as possible."

Skinner has also written a book, called "Beyond the Setting Sun," which chronicles his experiences. The proceeds from his book sales are being donated to hospices in the United States and Canada.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.hospicecarefoundation.org