50 states, 50 days, one big mission: YouTuber Ryan Trahan and wife Haley are road tripping for St. Jude
With lobster bakes, treehouses, and a “Wheel of Doom,” the couples’s cross-country challenge is changing lives.
July 11, 2025 • 3 min
Everyone has dreams and goals. Some might be big, bold, some even a little wild. But what if chasing your dream could also impact someone else’s life?
That’s exactly what YouTuber, vlogger and entrepreneur Ryan Trahan and his wife, Haley, set out to do when they started their “50 States in 50 Days” challenge. What began as a personal mission — to visit every U.S. state in just 50 days, quickly evolved into something much bigger: a nationwide fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
“Every day Haley and I see comments from St. Jude patients or parents of St. Jude patients. It’s just amazing to see the stories of resilience and the way that there is such a community around this organization,” Ryan said. “We cannot thank you guys enough for being so generous with these donations.”
The couple began their cross-country trek in their home state of Texas with the aim of raising $1 million for St. Jude. Two weeks into their travels, they reached their goal. They celebrated with balloons, party hats and homemade cake, baked in one of their overnight rentals.
Since then, the couple has driven hundreds of miles and raised their goal several times, receiving donations from around the country and beyond from individuals and families, some impacted by cancer in their own way. They have also received donations from businesses, including over 115 brands such as Lectric, Kia and Dollar Shave Club. Every night, before they go to sleep, the couple checks their fundraising tally and reads messages from donors.
“Every time I saw the donations go up, I just pictured someone’s face getting the news that they didn’t have to pay for their treatment, and that’s just so cool,” Haley said.
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food —- so they can focus on helping their child live.
Ryan and Haley are also ranking the Airbnb rentals they stay in to find the “coolest house” in America. They have stayed in unique locations — like an acorn tree house in Texas, a nuclear bunker in Arkansas, a yacht in North Carolina and a former U.S. Coast Guard light house in Massachusetts. Their trip has offered breathtaking views throughout the country, including towering mountains in Colorado and scenic ocean views in New England.
Their journey has also been a culinary adventure. Beyond iced coffees and fast-food meals, they have eaten Cajun classics in Louisiana, cream of crab soup in Maryland and an authentic lobster bake paired with lobster mac and cheese in New England.
Along the way, they’ve received donations from fellow YouTubers like Mr. Beast and Dhar Mann. They also met up with others like Doctor Mike and celebrity chef Nick DiGiovanni, who cooked a meal for them in Massachusetts.
They also received a video message from Jeff Probst, the host of the American version of the reality television show Survivor, a favorite of the couple who watch episodes during their travels. Probst, a St. Jude supporter, has been watching the couple’s series and keeping up with their adventures.
“I know St. Jude very well — been there many times. And as you know, it is one of the coolest, greatest, most magical hospitals anywhere in the world,” Probst said in his video message. “What a blessing for the kids, obviously, and for the families, because of how they handle everything for the families. Raising money for them is one of the greatest things you can do.”
Ryan and Haley’s journey also includes unpredictable twists, thanks to the “Wheel of Doom,” found in a suitcase they always carry with them. Ryan and Haley spin the wheel when they receive a donation of $50,000 or more. The wheel assigns a random penalty or challenge — like switching their mobile phones to airplane mode or depending only on strangers’ directions to get them to their next destination. When they were in New Jersey, for instance, they had to spin the wheel and split from one another to get to their next rental in New York state.
Ryan and Haley continue their journey across the country, documenting each day on YouTube and raising awareness and funds for St. Jude. See how much they’ve raised so far and discover how you can be part of the impact here.
