MATTAPOISETT, Mass. (WJAR) — A major milestone for a man from Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

In just a few weeks, 88-year-old Brad Hathaway will have walked the equivalent of the circumference of the world.

About 32 years ago, Hathaway said he went to the doctor. He had diabetes, heart problems, and other health issues.

"My doctor said, 'You better walk, you better start walking tomorrow and start walking 3 miles a day'," said Hathaway. "So, I did, and I mapped out the entire town."

Beginning in December of 1988, Hathaway walked every day -- rain or shine.

Sometimes, instead of walking three miles, he'd walk 10.

"As time went on, walking got a little harder," said Hathaway. "I had a walking stick for a few years and now I have this walker to help me walk."

According to Hathaway, since he's walked hundreds of routes, he's found a lot of things.

Several years ago, while walking, he was picking up liter along the way.

"I've collected all sorts of cans and bottles," he said. "I would say I've made about $7,000."

"I saw a muskrat not too long ago, can you believe that?" he said. "I found a wheelchair once. I thought, 'My, God. It's a perfectly good wheelchair. I called the police and they picked it up. I've found discarded lottery tickets. I picked up because that's trash, but I picked up 11 that have paid me $49."

"One time, I found a case full of Bud with one can missing and it was sitting right at the trash barrel at the town beach," he added.

WJAR's  Sam Read asked if he took it.

"Course, wasn't going to let that go," he replied laughing.

Besides trash becoming treasure, Hathaway said he's made lots of friends along the way, too.

"People like to stop and chat, a lot of people are walking now because of the virus, you know? But most of them have plugs in their ears. They're listening to music but I'm listening to the world and it's beautiful," he said.

Hathaway typically takes a break at the beach down the road from his home.

He also followed another daily routine.

"Everyday I walked, I logged it on the calendar," he said. "I don't think about it and I probably wouldn't know if I didn't keep the record."

Recently though, he decided to calculate how many miles he's walked.

"I'm one mile to 24,901 and that's around the earth at the equator," said Hathaway.

Hathaway has decided to wait to complete the final mile until Oct. 3 in an effort to raise money for the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

He was an original founder and hopes that people will support his final mile and will donate to his GoFundMe page so he can donate the money to the organization.

"There's more than my health involved in this right now. It's to raise as much money as I can for the Land Trust to keep Aucoot rural," he said. "I've tried to support them financially through the years, but I thought this is the biggest thing that I can do because the best way to keep it rural, is for the Land Trust to acquire it by gift, by purchase, or by conservation restrictions."

Hathaway is hopeful people will cheer him on at the top of his road, Aucoot Rd, and said even after he completes his goal he will continue to walk.

In December, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but there's no stopping him there.

"I don't know how much longer I will live, but as long as I can keep walking, it's going to be good for me," he said. "Out here, it's like heaven on earth."