Lucy Rose Walks Across U.S. to Raise Loneliness Awareness
The 51-day walk from Santa Monica crosses 17 states and ends in New York City on Nov. 12.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Friendships
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Lucy Rose, 72, is walking across the United States to raise awareness of loneliness, starting from Santa Monica, California. She passed through Philadelphia on Wednesday, stopping at Schuylkill River Park, and is listening to people's stories along the route.
Why it matters
Rose is walking to put a face to the loneliness epidemic, which one survey found affects 42% of men and 37% of women. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says loneliness has serious impacts on physical and mental health.
One survey found 42% of men and 37% of women are lonely. Rose walks 12 to 15 miles and about 40,000 steps a day across 17 states on her 51-day route.
The players
Lucy Rose
Rose is a 72-year-old founder of the Cost of Loneliness Project who is walking across the United States to raise awareness of loneliness.
Cost of Loneliness Project
The Cost of Loneliness Project is an initiative focused on raising public awareness of loneliness and its effects on health and wellbeing.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the federal public health agency that has said loneliness has serious impacts on physical and mental health.
The details
Rose founded the Cost of Loneliness Project and is walking across the country to listen to people's stories and make connections along the way. The walk is expected to end in New York City on Nov. 12, where the project plans a National Day of Connection at 12 noon local time.
Timeline
Wednesday (before publication, Nov. 4, 2026): Rose visited Schuylkill River Park in Philadelphia.
Nov. 12, 2026: The walk is scheduled to end in New York City.
Nov. 12, 2026 at 12 noon local time: The National Day of Connection is planned, featuring 12 minutes of connection.
Seasonal Patterns
The CDC has documented serious physical and mental health effects of loneliness, and Rose's cross-country walk extends that public health concern into a national awareness campaign. The walk's 17-state route and planned national day of connection position loneliness as a nationwide issue rather than a local one.
The walk's National Day of Connection invites Americans to pause for 12 minutes of connection at noon on Nov. 12. The campaign offers a concrete, low-cost way to reach out to someone you may have lost touch with.
The takeaway
Loneliness is a measurable health concern, and small, deliberate acts of connection can counter it. Reaching out to one person this week is a practical step readers can take right away.
What happens next
The walk is scheduled to end in New York City on Nov. 12, 2026, when the National Day of Connection takes place at 12 noon local time.
Further reading
For more on the social bonds at the heart of this walk, explore Friendships coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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