LAKE CITY, Fla. -- A Florida veteran is on a mission to increase awareness for homeless veterans.

David Whittaker is headed to Washington but not in a car, truck or on a plane; he is in his wheelchair.

“I go anywhere from 35 to 60 miles a day,” Whittaker said.

The homeless disabled veteran and his wheelchair started in south Florida, and Thursday night he stopped in Lake City. His wheelchair got a flat tire.

“I've had 17 flat tires in Florida,” said Whittaker. “Every bridge I go across where they allow fishing I pick up a fish hook.”

Whittaker is only traveling only on secondary roads. He has blinkers, mirrors and a cell phone.

“I've been on the road around three weeks, got held up in Orlando because of the downpour we had for a week,” Whittaker said.

He has collected quarters in a jar along the way. He said they are going to homeless veterans; that's why he's doing all this.

“I really heard God speak to me that I was to do something to raise awareness for homeless veterans in this country,” said Whittaker.

Whittaker said that he has met a lot of good people so far along the way like Lake City's American Legion, who are putting him up at the Holiday Inn.

“They put me up here; man, it's like a palace to me,” exclaimed Whittaker.

Then there's others who weren't so friendly.

“I had a gas station who wanted to charge me $25 to re-charge my batteries,” Whittaker said.

He knows the trek is daunting; in fact, his doctor doesn't support it, but Whittaker doesn't care.

“He doesn't think I can make it, but I'm going anyway,” said Whittaker. “Well, if I'm going to check out, I'm going to make a difference.”

If you would like to see where Whittaker is and track him, he has GPS on the wheelchair. Click on the link to track Whittaker in his travels to Washington, HHVA.VeteranCottages.org.