WSET.com - ABC13Couple Rides 4,000 Miles for Charity

Reporter: Rachel Schaerr | Photographer: Steven Smith

Huddleston, VA - A young couple trotted through Huddleston Friday, hoping to find lots of helping hands and open hearts along the way.

For the last 617 days, Richard and Jeannette McGrath, their dog Bella, four horses and a mule have seen it all: funny looks, people cheering them on, people yelling at them for slowing down traffic.  

They've spent close to two years without any modern day luxuries -- no heating, no air conditioning - just each other and a few good friends.

They hope to raise awareness and money for the Hearts Up Ranch in Jackson, Wyoming. It's focused on helping war veterans, rape victims -- anyone suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

"It's special because it uses horses and outdoor adventure to help people relax and open up," added Jeannette McGrath.

You can follow their blog, track their journey or donate to the cause on the Hearts Up Ranch website.

"People get to read about our trips, our struggles, our excitements, our prayers," said Richard McGrath.

The four-thousand mile journey has not been easy. It's been difficult keeping the horses comfortable and staying out of the way of oncoming cars.

Just last week, a snowstorm nearly stopped them in their tracks. Then, Jeannette McGrath says some strangers stopped, took them home and let them warm up by the fire.

"It's probably like the third bath I've had in two years," said Jeannette.

With the help of complete strangers and plenty of horsepower, the finish line is just a few weeks away.

"I'm sure we'll cry. It's just it's gonna be pretty neat," she added.

The McGrath's journey will end in Virginia Beach on December 10th. The first thing they're looking forward to is sleeping in their tempurpedic bed.