HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGE

Music: "American Hearts" by Piebald 

A big Thank You to East High School, our hosts for the Kick-Off Rally!  Steve Kohuth and his students are not only hosting this event but are also the first Denver area school to sign-up as runners!  They’ve selected The Children’s Hospital H.O.P.E. Clinic as the local beneficiary for their team’s fundraising efforts!  

Norton, KS

Make a Difference – Be a Part of This Great Adventure!

WHY REAL KIDS RUN...

Ashley Lisenby

15 years old 

High School Sophomore

Chicago, IL

Her Story: Ashley heard Christian speak at St. Ignatius and joined him the next day as he ran through Chicago.

Where she's running: Chicago, IL

Why she runs: "Christian and his crew came to my school yesterday and from listening to him speak about why he is running, I was inspired. At the end of Christian's presentation he invited us to come run with him. At that moment I was even more inspired to do something meaningful and live up to the Jesuit motto and be a woman for others. So, I woke up early this morning, put on some really warm clothes (because Chicago in the winter is no joke!), and I went to The Bean in Millennium Park to meet Christian. I was amazed I did that! A few years ago I did not even like running, but here i was on the Lake Michigan trail running. I was running for a good friend of my family who just got out of the hospital from having surgery. I was running for my friends grandparent, who unfortunately did not survive, but she survives in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. And most of all, I was running for every cancer survivor everywhere to show them my support."

Cara Hunt

15 years old 

High School Sophomore

St. Francis, KS

Her Story: Cara heard the Coast to Coast Run team speak at her high school and came out to run 2.5 miles with Christian.

Where she's running: Kansas

Why she runs: "When Christian and the team came to my school and talked about why he was running, it was an inspiration. I had a grandmother who was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. I thought that this was a really good cause, so I decided that I was going to run with Christian, not only for me, but for all cancer survivors, including my nana. I ran 2.5 miles, from Riverside Recreation to the Windmill Restuarant."

Sean Phillips

17 years old 

High School Senior

Fairfield, CT

His Story: Sean started running cross country during his freshman year and never looked back. He has improved a lot over the past four years and is now captain of the cross country team. 

Where he's running: Connecticut

Why he runs: "Man, where do I begin? The reason I started running was because I couldn't catch, or throw, or hit, or get tackled. I wanted to do a sport in high school and so my dad suggested that I run cross country because he was quite a runner back in the day. (Now I can beat him at a 5K, but don't tell him I told you that!) However, that is the reason I started running. The reason I stayed with running was because I kind of feel in love with it. It is as simple as that. I love staying with a kid on another team for an entire race and then running on pure fumes at the end to beat him across the finish line. I love the looks on people's faces when I say that I ran 12 miles that day. I love the feeling I get at the end of an extremely hard workout and I love hating the feeling I have during that hard workout. I love to have to look at the newspaper with a magnifying glass to find my name under race results. I love to hear 'Run, Forrest, Run!' from a passing car on EVERY SINGLE TRAINING RUN. I love to run a race and hear the eight or nine people with their boom boxes blasting 'Born to Run' even though the song never really helps me to move any faster. I am a senior in high school now and have been running for four years. I feel like throughout these four years I have gained access to a private club and I am a part of something I believe in and love, being a runner. Keep it up McEvoy!"

Katie Smith

16 years old 

High School Junior

Folsom, CA

Her Story: Katie met the Coast to Coast Run team and ran with Christian through Folsom, CA.

Where she's running: California

Why she runs: "Running is the one sport that lets you train as an individual and isolate yourself from everything else for an hour everyday, and also experience success as a team. It's one thing to be able to dunk a basketball or hit a homerun, but running is something else. Nothing comes close to the feeling of accomplishment after you finish a race or workout. They're no benches, no substitutes, no time outs. To say "I'm a runner" makes you a little crazy, and that's why I do it."

Scott Richter

17 years old 

High School Senior

Fairfield, CT

His Story: Scott played soccer his first two years in high school and was just looking for a way to stay in shape in the off-season. He really enjoyed hanging out with the people on the indoor/outdoor track teams, they all seemed to be nicer and more outgoing than the soccer crowd. His junior year Scott decided to stop playing soccer all together and run all three high school sports seasons.

Where he's running: All around Connecticut with the cross-country team.

Why he runs: "It gives me something to do with my time, to get away from the hassles of everyday high school life. It's something I enjoy doing when I have the time to. When I first learned about Christian's potential attempt to run across the country I was baffled, thinking things like 'That's a lot of time/commitment', and then learned he was taking a year off from teaching to complete all 3,500 miles of the run. After learning why and how he planned to complete the run, that just pushed me to run even harder when I race and longer when I train."

Elliot Talbot

16 years old 

High School Junior

Fairfield, CT

His Story: Elliot joined Christian in San Francisco to run the first miles of Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship.

Where he's running: Connecticut

Why he runs: "As I get older my days have become increasingly busy. I need 45 minutes to myself, a time to relax, and refeul. I try and fill that 45 minutes with a run. Running has become a way to get away from it all, an excuse to leave the problems of the day behind and be by myself. Forunately I have recently joined the Fairfield Prep Cross Country team. Being apart of this team has made my daily run just that much more enjoyable. Now I can wind down with a bunch of friends, out doing the same thing, taking it easy. Running with a team also fuels my competitive side with a weekly race against other students around the State."

Josh Patrick

17 years old 

High School Senior

Fairfield, CT

His Story: Josh wants to run to show his support for America's cancer survivors.

Where he's running: Connecticut

Why he runs: "I think that Mr. McEvoy is one of the most amazing people alive. He taught me that if I set my mind to something I can do it. I would like to join the run when he gets to Connecticut because I believe in what he is running for. One of my teachers died of multiple cancers and I feel that if I run it will be a way of me supporting those who survived and died. I missed a walk that was held for cancer in CT and my old school walked for her, so I would like to do this run in memory of her."

John Pierson

16 years old

High School Junior

Fairfield, CT

His Story: John is an emerging talent on his cross country team and an avid jazz saxophonist.

Where he's running: Connecticut

Why I run:  "There are several reasons I enjoy running.  The running crowd is usually a fun crowd to be around.  I also enjoy the scenery and the pleasant breaks running gives me, but I most enjoy running competitively.  I’m a competitive person, and I like to make goals.  I’ve learned from several people that goals work best when everyone knows about them.  Christian McEvoy is a great example of a loud goal-setter.  About a year ago he told everyone he was going to run across the country for cancer survivors.  People doubted him.  Everyone knows running 3500 miles is far from easy.  But now people ask me how he’s doing, and I proudly tell them that he’s in Utah, well over 800 miles into the run.  When goals are loud and clear, they’re more like promises.  Christian will run the 3500 miles.  Christian taught me that failure is not an option.  I’ve made more goals heard this cross country season then I have ever before. One of my goals is to raise some money and run with Christian when he gets in Connecticut and maybe before then."

Michael Morton

17 years old

High School Senior

Fairfield, CT  

His Story:  Mike lost 30lbs and took over 2 minutes off his mile time in under a year.  He loves the Boston Red Sox and is well-known for his finely groomed hair.

Where he's running: The entire state of CT with his XC team.

Why I Run: "I've never seen anyone work so hard at something that will not benefit them directly. The compassion that they exude is incomparable to anything I've ever witnessed before. I feel blessed to be a part of a great cause organized by some of the best people I've ever met. I'm excited to run with Christian on the homestretch and we will still be working hard to get everyone excited until he gets here"... read more

Tell us why YOU run – send us your information, photo and a couple of paragraphs on why you run and why you want to participate in the High School Challenge. Send your story to  

COOL WAYS TO GET STARTED

Sell Mady's Ribbons at your school!! Click here to learn more about how to get started!

Bear Naked has generously agreed to provide high schools with sampler kits of granola to sell as fundraisers for Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship.