A 22-year-old Scottish mental health campaigner reached Washington DC on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as part of a 3,000-mile charity trek across the United States.
Craig Ferguson, a Scotland soccer superfan from Paisley, Renfrewshire, began his journey from Santa Monica Pier, California, on February 24, 2026.
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Wearing a kilt, Ferguson has been completing a marathon distance of 26.2 miles every day, assisted by his close friend Matthew Allan in a support vehicle.
His fundraising campaign, called the Tartan Trek, has raised over £170,000 so far, with a target of £1 million for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).
Ferguson plans to finish his journey in Boston, Massachusetts, where he intends to watch Scotland play Haiti in their opening FIFA World Cup match.
Emotional Milestone
“Arriving in Washington DC feels surreal.
Mentally and physically, I’m exhausted – there are days where every single mile hurts – but knowing there’s now less than 500 miles to go gives me a huge lift,” Ferguson said.
He highlighted the kindness of people across America and the meaningful conversations about mental health he has had along the way.
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“One moment that really hit me was meeting a woman with dementia whose granddaughter told me she kept talking about ‘the Scottish boy walking across America’,” he added.
Ferguson previously completed a 1,000-mile trek from Glasgow to Munich before the 2024 European Championships, raising £70,000.
His current route has taken him through 13 states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland.
High-profile figures such as Kenny Dalglish, Jamie Murray, Lewis Capaldi, and John Barrowman have publicly endorsed his efforts.
Hazel McIlwraith, Director of Fundraising & Major Appeals at SAMH, praised Ferguson’s achievement as “nothing short of extraordinary.”
“Craig’s openness, resilience and ability to connect with people from all walks of life is helping spark important conversations around mental health,” she said.
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Ferguson now has approximately 450 miles remaining on the final leg of his journey northward to Boston.
