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OWN VOICE. From Andrew “Ranger” Kielak of Half Moon Bay on December 9th, 2025.
Andrew “Ranger” Kielak, the Half Moon Bay resident who walked 2,642 miles across America in 2024, is embarking on a new journey: a 24-hour nonstop walk to support his 9-year-old brother’s recovery from a life-threatening brain injury.
From noon on December 29th to noon on December 30th, Kielak will walk continuously in Half Moon Bay and the Coastside to raise funds for Jayson “JJ” Ferrell’s medical expenses, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery needs following his second Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) rupture.
“Last year, I walked across America to highlight people making a real difference in their communities,” said Kielak. “This year, I’m walking to make a real difference in mine.”
A Family’s Second Battle
On the morning of October 18, 2025, JJ woke up coughing and vomiting during a family trip to Oklahoma. Within minutes, he began seizing. He had suffered his second AVM rupture — a severe brain bleed caused by abnormal blood vessel formations in the brain. He was airlifted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis Children’s Hospital in Tulsa, where he spent almost a month fighting for his life. Eventually, he was flown back to California to continue the fight closer to home (Modesto).
This is JJ’s second battle with an AVM. His first rupture occurred in 2020 when he was just four years old.
Today, JJ is at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Sacramento, where he is undergoing intensive pediatric physical therapy and rehabilitation. He’s already begun speaking single words and short phrases — including “baseball,” “thank you,” and, of course, “six-seven.” While he’s showing remarkable progress, doctors anticipate months of intensive rehabilitation ahead as he continues to regain his mobility and communication skills.
“JJ once recorded a video where he said, ‘You ARE a champion. You ARE a winner,'” Kielak explained. “He was talking to someone else, but right now those words are for him. I’m walking 24 hours to remind him — and everyone who loves him — what champions look like when they show up.”
The Mission
Kielak’s mission for the walk is clear: To support his brother JJ’s recovery, honor his courage, and mobilize a community that believes in showing up when it matters most — proving that no one fights alone.
The Ferrell family is facing significant financial strain, including:
- Medical transport costs between Oklahoma and California
- Extended time off work for JJ’s father
- Rehabilitation facility expenses
- Medical equipment and home adaptations
- Ongoing therapy costs not covered by insurance
One hundred percent of funds raised through the walk will go directly to JJ’s recovery through the family’s GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/jjthebigboy.
Community Participation Welcome
Community members are invited to participate in multiple ways:
- Walk alongside Ranger for a mile, an hour, or longer
- Donate directly to JJ’s GoFundMe
- Pledge per mile Ranger completes during the 24 hours
- Follow along online through live updates on social media
“When I walked across America, I learned that there are good people everywhere,” said Kielak. “People who show up when it matters. This is one of those moments.”
About Ranger Kielak
Andrew “Ranger” Kielak is a life and business coach based in Half Moon Bay, founder of Within
Range Coaching, and a UC Davis agriculture graduate. In 2024, he completed a 2,642-mile
walk across America from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Los Angeles, California, raising over
$8,500 for charity and documenting stories of community resilience along the way.
Kielak works with the Coastside Renaissance Center, Visit Half Moon Bay, and is a member of
the Half Moon Bay Lions Club.
Event Details
What: 24-Hour Endurance Walk for JJ’s AVM Recovery
When: Sunday, December 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM through Monday, December 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Where: Half Moon Bay, California (specific route details available upon request)
Beneficiary: 100% of proceeds benefit JJ Ferrell’s AVM recovery
GoFundMe: JJ’s GoFundMe
Social Media: @WithinRange_Coaching | @Ranger_Kielak
About AVMs
An Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain where arteries connect directly to veins, bypassing normal capillaries. This creates dangerous pressure that can lead to rupture and life-threatening bleeding. AVMs affect approximately 1 in 100,000 people and are often present from birth but may not cause symptoms until they rupture.
To learn more about the 24-hour walk or to arrange an interview with Ranger Kielak contact:
Andrew “Ranger” Kielak
WithinRangeCoaching.com
916-678-0610
Ranger@WithinRangeCoaching.com
Instagram: @WithinRange_Coaching | @Ranger_Kielak
Author: mdrag
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Thank you so much for sharing!
You are welcome! Good luck Ranger 🙂