GRAYTON BEACH — Running 3,100 miles across the country in 157 days was just the first step for Landon Cooper and the Miles 2 Give team. They say their journey to make sarcoma — the forgotten cancer — known globally is just beginning.
Cooper, who has called the Emerald Coast home for more than six years, finished his tour across the United States last month after raising about $103,000 for cancer research. Now, he and his team plan on making the trek every year in a different country.
“If we have miles to go, we have miles to give,” Cooper said recently at the Red Bar in his hometown of Grayton Beach.
Cooper, 34, says he was inspired to quit his job and found Miles 2 Give after a friend died from the disease.
Sarcoma can develop in bones, muscles and other soft tissues.It affects about 12,000 Americans each year.The cancer makes up 1 percent of all newly diagnosed cases in adults and 15 percent of pediatric cancer cases.
“It’s that rare of a disease, so it needs a rare approach,” Cooper said.
His journey began Feb. 14 in San Francisco and ended July 20 in Ocean City, Md. The team ran in honor and in memory of more than 270 sarcoma patients.
Cooper, along with team members Ryan Priest and John McKay, took turns running about 30 miles a day while one person drove the Miles 2 Give Winnebago.
Along the way, they stopped at schools, hospitals and community centers to publicize sarcoma and the need for more funding for cancer research.
“The reaction was overwhelming,” said Ryan Bonhardt, online director with Miles 2 Give. “People drove 15 hours just to be at the finish. … What we’ve done and the money we raised makes us one of the top three for raising funds for sarcoma.”
The team now has set a goal of raising $8,000 by Oct. 1 to start a wish-granting program. Miles 2 Give also is working on an international giving package for next year’s journey in the hope that it will continue no matter where in the world Cooper and his team are running.
“This needs a global approach,” Cooper said. “We will never say no, no matter how tired we are. These cancer warriors are fighting day and night, so we will continue to run for them.”
For more information on Miles 2 Give, go to miles2give.org. Check them out on Facebook at miles2give.org and follow them on Twitter @Miles2Give.
For more information on Miles 2 Give, go to miles2give.org. Check them out on Facebook at miles2give.org and follow them on Twitter @Miles2Give.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.
