An Ohio man is standing up to cancer in honor of his mother by running across the state this October.
On Oct. 21, endurance athlete and filmmaker Joe Baur will begin his 326-mile journey from Cincinnati to his hometown of Cleveland. Baur will travel along the Ohio to Erie Trail, attempting to complete the run in just five days to set a new fastest known time while also raising money for Stand Up to Cancer, a nonprofit that spreads awareness and raises funds for cancer research.
Baur’s mother, Jan Baur, passed away from breast cancer in October 2019. In addition to raising money for cancer research, Baur’s run will be in memory of her.
“I grew up in Ohio, so I wanted to do something that can shine a positive light on where I’m from,” Baur said in a press release. “Running it is a way to honor my mom’s fight and to show how movement can bring people together for something bigger than ourselves.”
Baur’s no stranger to ultimate marathons; he’s chronicled his runs throughout the world, in places like Kenya, Japan and Nepal. But, he says this challenge brings the focus home, allowing him to combine his passions for storytelling, long-distance running and making a difference. For this run, he says he plans to cover more than 60 miles a day, supported by a small family crew who will document the experience for his YouTube channel and social media. Baur says others are also welcome to join him on the route.
If you would like to donate to Baur’s fundraiser, you can do so here.
