John Casterline beat Stage 4 lung cancer, against all odds, and now appreciates each breath and each day more than ever before.

Just surviving would be enough for some, but John has a plan to make a difference. A big one. He’s setting out on a 2,650-mile backpacking trek to raise money and awareness for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

He expects the hike to take more than four months, but says it will be worth it to help raise money for a cancer with a lot of misconceptions and unfortunately not a lot of funding around it.

Casterline explains the dark days after his diagnosis and how his son helped him change his attitude.

Since his lung cancer diagnosis he’s been dealt additional blow — in 2010 he was diagnosed with both prostate cancer and throat cancer.

But he says even that wasn’t enough to slow him down or derail his training plan. He says he hopes his hike proves to people that you can beat cancer. With exercise, nutrition and the right medicine care, he’s out to show people that they can make it, too.

Casterline says the trip will be “wonderful” — and we’re sure it will be, although it will also be exhausting, challenging and inspirational.

Click here to follow Casterline’s hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and to help him reach his goal of raising $10,000.