The fifth member of the USA 2025 support team that I'd like to introduce is Graeme. It was a case of right time and right place for him to join the team as he'll explain later on.
Graeme will join the team with Phil on day 83 (22nd July) in the Nevada desert to the north east of Las Vegas at mile 2624. Graeme's time promises to be very tough with temperatures of more than 100F expected when he arrives. Once through Las Vegas, we'll be on our way to Death Valley. Graeme will be supporting from a distance in the motorhome at this point with Phil providing the direct support to me.
We have yet to decide whether Graeme will bring the motorhome into Death Valley National Park or stick with the original plan of sitting tight on the other side in Olancha. Whatever happens, we will be faced with an average requirement of 37.5 miles over the final six days to the finish line at Huntington Beach. Not that there wasn't before but this will be a very busy and challenging time on the tour. High temperatures, high mileage and very long days.
Graeme explains "It was in September 2023 when I was in Italy for the champions league match between AC Milan and Newcastle
The night before the game I was in an Irish bar in Bergamo when I got chatting to some other Newcastle fans, one of which was Mark.
I’m not sure how we got on the subject but Mark told me he’d ran some long distance runs and was gearing up to this coming run across the USA.
I must admit I looked at him and thought ‘ mate, you’re no Mo Farah!’
In fairness it didn’t take much to convince me to take part in some way.
My passion is travel and I’ve travelled the US extensively, so it was a no brainier for me especially as the charity was a hospice.
I’ll be doing the last leg of the journey with Phil into Huntington Beach, California…the surf capital of the world.
The last time I was there was when the world surf championships were on back in the 2000’s…. I was watching not participating!!
It will be nice to know that me and all the other volunteers are helping towards Mark completing this incredible journey."
Thank you to Graeme for supporting me for almost 600 miles over 18 days. I look forward to taking our journey full circle since that chance meeting over a beer in Bergamo. How fitting that we'll be able to celebrate in similar fashion in Huntington Beach, California.
