Barefoot Dutchman visits Westmoreland on trek to support men's mental health

The Barefoot Dutchman made his way through eastern Westmoreland County on Thursday, carefully placing one unshod foot in front of the other.

Anton Nootenboom, a native of the Netherlands and veteran of its army, has adopted the nickname as he nears completion of a shoeless eastward trek across the United States that is meant to raise awareness and funding in support of men’s mental health.

“When you walk barefoot, you become really aware of where you put your feet,” Nootenboom said.

Since starting his journey Feb. 17 at California’s Santa Monica Beach, he said he’s avoided stepping on most artificial hazards, save for a few “really small” pieces of glass.

More than 13,500 miles and seven months later, he said, “My skin is getting stronger.” But, “Right now, my feet are really sore from stepping on rocks for so long.”

Nootenboom, 37, started going barefoot when he relocated to Australia after a 10-year army stint that included three tours in Afghanistan.

“I was living next to the beach,” he said. “It was more in the culture to go outside walking barefoot to the supermarket.”

But he also was at loose ends after his military service, stuck in a job that didn’t suit him and struggling with financial pressures and mental health concerns.

Scared when the thought of suicide crossed his mind, Nootenboom listened to a friend and sought out the services of a mental health coach.

“That was the start of my healing process,” he said.

Nootenboom returned to his native country and has since found his calling coaching other men on mental health matters.

He has started a related online platform and foundation, #BraveMenTalk, has written a book about his experiences and, in 2019, began extreme barefoot walks to draw attention and donations to his cause.

Before beginning his U.S. effort, he walked barefoot for more than 1,800 miles along the east coast of Australia and also reached a Mt. Everest base camp sans shoes.

According to his website, bravementalk.com, he’s raised more than $45,000 in donations toward a goal of $250,000. The stated intent is to spread the wealth among his foundation and two other organizations: Movember, which focuses on men’s mental health and cancer concerns; and Netherlands-based mental health charity MIND.

Nootenboom urges men to overcome their reluctance to talk about mental health issues they may be facing.

“We all carry this super power within us to save our own lives, by speaking up and sharing our stories,” he said.

In addition to his girlfriend, who is providing support during his U.S. trek to New York City, Nootenboom is sharing his travels with Oreo, a mixed-breed stray dog he found on the streets of Los Angeles.

He’s also made new friends in communities along the way, as word spread about his barefoot challenge and his cause.

His Thursday walking segment began at a pizza eatery in Unity, near Beatty Crossroads on Route 30. It was expected to end at a Ligonier pizza shop — where a gathering of supporters was being organized by Shela Gornik, founder of Heroes Never Alone, a local nonprofit that offers housing and other assistance to veterans.

“The town of Ligonier is pulling together to greet him in a mighty way,” Gornik said.