Dubai: A professor from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) will next week run 5,400 kilometres across the United States to raise awareness about lung disease.
Starting in Los Angeles, Nicholas Ashill, a 52-year-old marketing professor, will run across the US to New York. He expects the trip to take 110 days.
His gruelling journey was inspired by a personal tragedy. Two years ago, his mother died from pulmonary fibrosis — a disease which scars the lungs, often seeing its victim constantly gasping for air.
“My family received so much love and emotional support during the last two years of my mum’s life and I want to give back,” said Ashill, who has four children.
Through this run, he plans to raise funds for scientific research as well as to provide oxygen bottles and support to individuals directly affected by the disease.
But the challenge may not prove to be easy — more people have climbed Mount Everest than those who have run across the US.
Since last summer, Ashill has trained in New Zealand and Cyprus, and began to run half marathons every day from September.
“On average, 20 to 30 people attempt such a race annually, mostly in the winter, rather than in the May–August time frame I am planning to run,” he added.
His plan is to run 50km per day, seven days a week. Beginning each day at 6am and ending his run between 1—2pm. He plans to take a day off every week once he is a quarter to a third of the way along.
His support team will include his eldest daughter and his father-in-law, who will follow him in a recreational vehicle.
“The talking is over. Let the running and mind games begin. Maybe I will reach New York and decide to run all the way back to Los Angeles,” said Ashill.
For regular updates, and to support his run, visit his website nickrunsamerica.com, or follow on his Facebook and Instagram (@Nick.RunsAmerica) accounts.
