The overnight stop at Mexican Hat, Utah made for a very uncomfortable sleep. The temperature didn’t cool down until around 0230. That was my cue to get some sleep before the 0515 alarm.
I noticed a single solitary star in the sky. I had also done last week on the Sunflower Road. I didn’t mention the significance of it in my blog. My Mam had left me a letter to read after she died. Part of it read “if you look up to the night sky and see a single solitary star, then you’ll know I’m watching over you”. If you believe in that type of thing or not, I found it very comforting.
We set off at 0545 on the short journey to a mile away from Forrest Gump Point. The sun was just about rising behind me as I set off on the “final mile”. There was barely a sound to be heard. It felt so peaceful out there on the road.
I spoke to Donna briefly to tell her that I’d started. Then, unplanned, I spoke to camera via a Facebook Live session. That lasted until the signal cut out and I switched to my iPhone camera instead.
The mile flew by and I could that famous stretch of road being unveiled by the rising sun. It was like the curtain raising at a theatre.
As you can tell from the video below I was very happy with the ultimate outcome of my running/fundraising exploits.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, I reached the end of the “final mile” at Forrest Gump point. My feet ached even after that short distance.
My socials said “I think I’ll go home now. Almost 13,000 miles of running ends here. As it was meant to be.”
All throughout the final mile I felt at peace. I have the closure to my grief that I’ve spent many years and tens of thousands of miles searching for. As mad as it may sound, I would not have wanted any other outcome to this tour than the one I got today.
There is no regret or disappointment in me at all. There is simply gratitude and pride at a job well done.
The response on social media and the amount of donations made soon after I finished was incredible. At the time of writing (21:13 in a hotel in Las Vegas. It’s a long story which I’ll cover later this week) £25,766 has been raised for St. Benedict’s Hospice. I’m aware of some pledges in the pipeline too so it won’t stay at that amount for much longer.
The mile served as the perfect birthday present. I later chuckled at a card that was sent to me by Donna.
The coverage on NUFC.com helped massively to boost the funds for St. Benedict’s Hospice.
The money raised for various charities including St. Benedict’s Hospice via Run Geordie Run is quite something. The generosity and kindness shown is very difficult to comprehend.
These numbers will continue to grow in the future. I just need to figure out how in due course.
It’s important not to think of these numbers in terms of pure pounds and pence. It’s the difference that money can make to a charity such as St. Benedict’s Hospice that’s hugely important.
I’m one of many volunteer fundraisers. Together we are making a significant difference to the lives of terminally ill people and their families. If you’ve supported my fundraising efforts then you should feel very much as proud as I do right now.
If you haven’t yet got round to making a donation then please visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025.
There will be more to write about in the coming days, weeks and months so please tune in to the blog and socials.
In the meantime, it’s good night from an air-conditioned hotel room in Las Vegas. The RV is parked outside in the middle of an extreme heat warning. The air con is set to 67. I’m blumming freezing!
TUNE OF THE DAY: Forrest Gump Suite - Alan Silvestri
