The annual tour was created to generate new interest in cold cases of missing persons across our nation. The inspiration came in 2004 from the case of a North Carolina college student "Leah Roberts" who had gone on a cross country trip of exploration; to only later find her wrecked abandoned vehicle, leaving no sign of her whereabouts for years. Leah's case went cold and interest faded until CUE volunteers set out on a grueling 14 day trip to re trace her route and inform the media along the way of all those that were missing in the path of the tour. In the years to follow, it only seemed right to keep hope alive after families from abroad had voiced the need for more help and supported the tour "idea". Although many of the missing are featured during and throughout the tour - we elect to annually name an honoree as a part of tradition; this years receipt is Jeremy Alex, missing from the state of Maine.

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