November, 2013 - Running The Country

I thought I would be the youngest person ever to run across the USA until I found out that a slightly younger 15-year old boy named Tobias Cotton ran across America in 1928. Although we are both running across the country to help people, he was doing it to save his family from poverty, and my goal is to save people worldwide from the horrors of GMOs.

When Tobias’s dad got injured while fixing a car, the family was left in poverty with no way to make money. They would have been left that way if Tobias hadn’t heard about the $25,000 prize for winning a trans continental race nicknamed the Bunion Derby. After convincing his family to let him run he was one of 198 competitors, and one of five African Americans competing.

Near the end of the race his dreams were destroyed, after running over 3,000 miles he finished in 35th place. Tobias’s dreams seemed to be ruined until William Bojangles Robinson heard about this tragic story. Mr. Robinson who played a part in the musical, “Black Birds” organized a performance in Tobias’s honor, where all of the earnings went to the Cotton Family. Later he was awarded a diamond studded gold medal for completing his run.

Initially, when I discovered that I wasn’t going to be the youngest person to run across America I was disappointed, but when I heard the story of Tobias Cotton, I decided that it was fine with me that someone like Tobias beat me as the youngest person to complete this run.

Read more about Tobias Cotton here.

About a year ago, Kris and I finally decided we would do everything possible to help David fulfill his dream of running across the USA. Since that time, we’ve been working hard to prepare for the run. A big part of the preparation is fund raising. We’re confident that our family and friends around the world are going to shower us with a whole lot of love and loot because we’re running for a cause we all believe in: sustainable agriculture, GMO food labeling, and seed freedom!

Photo Credit: Jordan Zellhuber

We’ve got a few fund raising ideas up our sleeves. One of the most exciting ideas is our Running The Country Fund Run. On December 14, 2013, Sitkans are meeting at 9 am at the track at Moller Field. We’re going to run laps around the track until 3 pm. Between now and the Fund Run, we’re talking with anyone and everyone who would like to pledge a dollar amount per lap. David and I will likely run more than 100 laps.

If you don’t live in Sitka, you can still participate in the Fund Run in one of two ways:
1. Pledge to donate a certain amount per lap to David or me. No amount is too small or too large. We’ll happily accept your pledge. Just comment below, message us, email, call, text, send smoke signals, loft a carrier pigeon, or whatever floats your boat.
2. Print out the front and back PDF pledge sheet, gather pledges, and go on your own Fund Run wherever you live. Keep track of your distance with a GPS watch or Smart Phone. 1/4 mile equals one lap. No more than 6 hours running allowed! After you’re done running, collect the pledges and send them to Sitka.

We’ll have refreshments and prizes at Moller Field. If you’re running in Zimbabwe or the Antarctic, you’ll have to take care of your own refreshments. But even if you’re in Zimbabwe or the Antarctic, we’ll make sure you get a prize or two if you raise fat wads of cash or run a zillion laps.

Support us, make a pledge, run with us!

Thanks for helping us make a positive difference in America’s food system!

See you on December 14th.

Month: November 2013

Tobias Cotton and The 1928 Bunion Derby

Fund Run