It isn't every day you come across someone with the determination of Wayne Cho. Cho is completing a 16,000 mile journey around the world in an effort to increase awareness about mental illness. He began his run in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 1st, 2012.
Since then he has logged over 1600 miles while traveling down the coast to Los Angeles, California. The next segment of his trip will take him through the desert to Las Vegas; no small feat considering that we are heading into the warmer months.
Why is he doing all this? Wayne knows firsthand what it is like to suffer with mental illness. Childhood abuse left him struggling with anxiety and mood disorders; but this young man is not one to quit. At age 30, he became a long distance runner as a way to cope with anxiety and increase his confidence.
Prior to the world run, Wayne completed a 5400 mile run across Canada to raise awareness about anxiety and depression. His current journey will take him through 22 countries over the course of three years.
Wayne has been running alongside a driver; for safety, companionship and a way to store his belongings. He is currently looking for a new volunteer driver-companion as of mid-May to help him through the desert. Planning a late-spring RV trip from LA to Vegas? Perhaps you could give him a hand.
I think Wayne deserves a lot of credit for the undertaking, particularly because he has not received much support from the media thus far; hopefully that will change.
What do you think? Can events such as Wayne's run across the world make a difference in raising awareness about mental illness?
Further Reading
- Running Group Helps Battle Social Anxiety Disorder
- World Run for Mental Health Ends Stigma
- Support Groups for Social Anxiety Disorder
Photo © Love World Run
