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She Did It: First Woman to Skateboard Across the U.S. Honors Her Late Stepfather and Raises $50K for Spinal Cord Research

Via: WVEC

Brooke Johnson rolled into Virginia Beach on August 15, 2025, making history as the first woman to skateboard across the United States. After 119 days, 3,266 miles, countless pairs of worn-out shoes, and more than a few battles with bad weather, the 29-year-old crossed the Red Bull finish line with a heart-shaped necklace around her neck, one that held her late stepfather Roger’s ashes.

“Roger left me purpose, and for that I thank him every single day,” Johnson said.

This journey wasn’t just about the miles. Johnson set out from Santa Monica, California, to honor Roger, who broke his C5 vertebrae, became a quadriplegic, and passed away last year from his spinal cord injury. Together, they had dreamed of crossing the finish line side by side, Johnson pushing Roger in his wheelchair.

Via: WVEC

“I was like, ‘Roger, it’s a really big country.’ And he was like, ‘Well, you can do it,’” Johnson remembered.

And she did. With every push of her board, she raised awareness and funds for Wings for Life, a nonprofit dedicated to spinal cord research. By the end of her ride, she had raised an incredible $50,000.

Through rain, rough terrain, and exhaustion, Johnson said she felt Roger beside her. “He’s, like, supported me through this whole thing, it’s actually crazy,” she told ABC Norfolk station WVEC.

 

When she finally reached the Atlantic, Johnson celebrated by sharing a video montage of her journey on Instagram. She set it to an old voicemail from Roger, one that, she said, “was one of those messages that felt like he left it for the present moment.”

And in her caption, she left a message for everyone watching her story unfold:
“If there’s one thing you take away from this trip, it’s that you can truly do anything you put your mind to.”

Kayla Kissel
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