- April 14, 2026
Megan Farrell-Nelson during her statewide awareness walk. Photo courtesy of Megan Farrell-Nelson
Megan Farrell-Nelson during her statewide awareness walk. Photo courtesy of Megan Farrell-Nelson
Megan Farrell-Nelson during her statewide awareness walk. Photo courtesy of Megan Farrell-Nelson
Megan Farrell-Nelson during her statewide awareness walk. Photo courtesy of Megan Farrell-Nelson
Megan Farrell-Nelson during her statewide awareness walk. Photo courtesy of Megan Farrell-Nelson
A Flagler Beach realtor and local business owner is taking on a more than 600-mile journey across Florida, turning a deeply personal experience into a mission to raise awareness and support survivors of sexual violence.
Megan Farrell-Nelson began her walk on April 1 in Amelia Island and plans to finish in Key West on June 7, traveling down the state’s east coast over the course of 67 days. Along the way, she is averaging about 10 miles per day, stopping in communities like Flagler Beach to share her message and connect with others.
“I am walking to raise awareness on sexual violence against women and what it’s like to report those crimes in the United States,” Farrell-Nelson said.
Farrell-Nelson said the journey is rooted in her own experience as a survivor of sexual assault, an event she says occurred during a work-related function. Her story is now part of an ongoing lawsuit involving eXp Realty. While that legal process continues, she said her focus remains on advocacy and community.
“I have a personal story that lends itself to this cause, and that is the piece that inspires me to stand up for other women,” she said.
As she moves south through Florida, Farrell-Nelson said the response from both her personal network and strangers has been overwhelmingly positive. She described support from friends, family and local communities who have joined her along portions of the walk or offered encouragement along the way.
“My personal community has just rallied around me,” she said. “I’ve had so many people show up and offer support. It’s been amazing.”
Farrell-Nelson said the journey has also opened the door for conversations about the prevalence of sexual violence and the challenges survivors often face when reporting those crimes.
“One in six women will experience a rape or attempted rape in their lifetime,” she said. “That’s a lot of people. I just want to spread awareness and help people understand that we can survive through something difficult and make it to the other side.”
Physically, the walk has been demanding, with Farrell-Nelson focusing on recovery each day to maintain her pace. But emotionally, she described the experience as healing.
“It’s been very beautiful. It’s been very healing,” she said. “There’s not one piece of this that has been a sad experience.”
She has titled the effort “Walking on Tired Legs,” a phrase she said reflects both the physical challenge of the journey and the emotional toll survivors often carry.
“It’s just walking on tired legs,” she said. “Every day you get up and you just keep doing it, no matter how hard the day before was.”
Farrell-Nelson said her ultimate goal is to help others feel less alone and more empowered to share their stories.
“My ultimate goal with this journey is to let other women who have been through something like this know that they’re not alone and that there is life on the other side of it,” she said.
She also hopes her message resonates beyond survivors, encouraging broader community support and understanding.
“Your story matters and your voice matters,” she said. “What happened to you is not your fault.”
Farrell-Nelson is expected to complete her walk in Key West in early June, continuing to meet with community members and share her message along the way.
