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Rob Pope has embarked on an enormous journey, running across the United States to raise both funds and awareness for causes he really believes in - Peace Direct and the World Wildlife Fund.  

He's already crossed the nation TWICE, running from Mobile, Alabama all the way to Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California.  He turned around and ran even further back across some 18 states to the Marshall Point Lighthouse in Maine.  When he got there, he turned around and kept on running! He's on his way to the West coast again as we speak.

It's a huge distance - America is over 100 marathons wide - and Rob needs your support, so please check out the charities, make a donation, and if you're in the area, cheer him on! Maybe you could even join him for a run?

 

WHERE'S ROB TODAY?

 
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The schedule

  • THIS WEEK (TO 26TH MAR) - JACKSON, TN - CAMDEN - DICKSON - NASHVILLE - COOKVILLE, TN (Contact via email if you want to say hi - or honk if you see me!)
  • 13-20TH JANUARY - SANTA MONICA - DEATH VALLEY, CA
  • 4TH WEEK JANUARY - LAS VEGAS, NV
  • 1ST WEEK FEBRUARY - PHOENIX, AZ
  • 3RD WEEK FEBRUARY - LAS CRUCES, ROSWELL, NM
  • 4TH WEEK FEBRUARY - LUBBOCK, TX
  • 1ST WEEK MARCH - GAINESVILLE, TX 
  • 3RD/4TH WEEK  MARCH - LITTLE ROCK, AR - NASHVILLE, TN - KNOXVILLE
  • 1ST WEEK APRIL - ROANOKE, VA
  • 2ND WEEK APRIL - WASHINGTON, DC - BALTIMORE, MD - PHILADELPHIA, PA
  • 3RD WEEK APRIL - NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN, CT - BOSTON, MA
  • 4TH WEEK APRIL - PORTSMOUTH, NH - WELLS, ME - PORTLAND - BRUNSWICK - MARSHALL POINT LIGHTHOUSE, PORT CLYDE
  • 1ST WEEK MAY - BRUNSWICK, ME - WINDHAM - TAMWORTH, NH - PLYMOUTH - LEBANON - PLYMOUTH, VT - SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
  • 2ND WEEK MAY - FULTONVILLE, NY - FRANKFORT - ONEIDA - SYRACUSE - SENECA FALLS - CANADAIGUA - GENESEO
  • 3RD WEEK MAY - YORKSHIRE, NY - SHERIDAN - NORTH EAST, PA - ERIE - CONNEAUT, OH - PAINESVILLE -CLEVELAND - VERMILION
  • 4TH WEEK MAY - FREMONT, OH - TOLEDO - ADRIAN, MI - CONCORD - KALAMAZOO - PAW PAW - ST. JOSEPH
  • 5TH WEEK MAY - MICHIGAN CITY, IN - GARY - CHICAGO, IL
  • BEYOND - WHO KNOWS???
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Image: Athletics Australia

Image: Athletics Australia

About ROb

Rob Pope is an emergency veterinarian by night and runner by day.

No beginner marathon runner, Rob became the Australian Marathon Champion at the Australian Marathon Championships in 2015, won the Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 2015 and 2016, where he ran a personal best of 2:27:13.

All of that said this is - by a very long margin - Rob's biggest challenge to date , with the equivalent of almost 100 marathons between him and the finish line!

Rob would appreciate any and all support, so please donate, send messages of support or if you're in the area, cheer him on in person.

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World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund is the world's leading conservation organisation, working in 100 countries and with close to 5 million members globally.

WWF's initiatives:

  • Forests - Conserve the world's most important forests
  • Oceans - Safeguard healthy oceans and marine livelihoods
  • Fresh water - Secure water for people and nature
  • Wildlife - Protect the world's most important species
  • Food - Double net food availability; freeze its footprint
  • Climate - Create a climate-resilient and zero-carbon world, powered by renewable energy

Peace Direct

Peace Direct believe that local people have the power to find their own solutions to conflict – and to build their own better futures.

In the world’s most fragile countries, Peace Direct seek out local peace-builders who are making a real difference – building peace from the grassroots up, preventing conflict in the places where it starts – locally - by disarming rebels, resettling refugees, healing communities, reviving economies. They work at great personal risk on crucial problems like child soldiers, women and conflict, youth and peace, political violence. They are the key to preventing conflicts and creating a lasting peace.

Peace Direct find them, fund them, and promote their work to those in the wider world who can help with finance or influence.

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Latest from social media

I heard there's a crazy guy spreading a message of love in Union Square... Now there's two, if only for a short while! @silver.matthew - much love. #love #unicorn #chicken #unionsquare #unicornsquare #run #running #ultrarunner #ultrarunning #Newyork #nyc #changeofscenery #wegoagain #getoutdoors www.goingthedistancerun.com.
I want to run, I (don't) want to hide. U2 at Soldier Field. Incredible. #u2 #joshuatree2017 #joshuatree #Bono #Edge #Larry #Adam #soldierfield #Chicago #red #music #inthenameoflove #iwanttorun #run #running #ultrarunning #ultra #goingthedistance #WWF #peacedirect
The beautiful Chicago lakefront. What a place to run. I could get used to this #runchat #run #RUNNING #runnersworld #runners #instarun #Chicago #lakemichigan #sculpture #skyline #horizon #getoutdoors Www.goingthedistancerun.com.
Run Jagger Run says EVERYBODY'S NAUGHTY!! #rollingstones #Stonesism #Mick #Keef #Charlie #Ronnie #everybodysnaughty #Chicago #navypier #Illinois #running #run #runnersworld #ultrarunning #ultrarunner #ultra #getoutdoors #WWF #peacedirect #runnersofinstagram #instarun
On the way into Chicago, I heard an unexpected voice from the side of the road. Chris Conlon. Proud and inspiring stroke survivor who has returned to running marathons and IRONMAN competitions. We met in the bus queue for Boston Marathon and he is doing a bit of a roadtrip. He told me: "I'll follow you anywhere, Mr Gump!" Check out his shoes!! -------------------------------------------------------- #Bostonstrong #bostonmarathon #marathon #surprise #IRONMAN #stroke #survivor #proud #inspiration #followme #nevergiveup #run #RUNNING #runner #ultrarunner #ultrarunning #runnersofinstagram #instarun #getoutdoors #Nike #cortex Www.goingthedistancerun.com
Struggling to keep up with it myself! Hellooooo Indiana!! #Indiana #TransUSA #solo #RUNNING #run #runner #runnersofinstagram #getoutdoors #crossroads #ultrarunner #ultrarunning #runnersworld #wwf #peacedirect #nike
 
 
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How you can help

Sure running's great for getting from A to B (or AL to CA) but in this case it's serving a much more important purpose, and that's where you come in.

The aim of Rob's run is to raise awareness and funds for these two amazing causes - the World Wildlife Fund and Peace Direct - and every little bit helps.

So what can you do to help?

1. Share

With everyone! And often!

2. Donate

Everything helps and is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 
Image: World Wildlife Fund

Image: World Wildlife Fund

Image: Peace Direct

Image: Peace Direct

3. SUPPORT TEAM

Rob will be supported by his long-suffering girlfriend Nadine (Nadla) who will fill various roles such as driver, chef, psychologist, logistics manager and chief reader of bedtime stories. Follow her blog, which is far more interesting than that running guy's blog

We also hope to have friends joining us to help out on the way. Feel free to contact us if you fancy getting involved!

We would love any help from local people along the way including:

  • Physiotherapists/Sports therapists
  • Doctors, dentists, nurses
  • RV Park, gas station, convenience store, restauarant owners
  • Local media/marketing representatives
  • Friendly people with a spare bed/a big bowl of chilli that needs eating/somewhere to park

...and of course: RUNNERS!

We look forward to meeting you!

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Sponsors

Please support the wonderful sponsors of Rob's run, who are contributing to some terrific causes

If you'd like to get involved in company sponsorship , please get in touch via the contact page