He really put his heart into it.
Rees Walter, a junior from Harborfields, has embarked on an ambitious journey to run 1,000 miles, aiming to raise $2,000 for mental health awareness.
“I kicked things off on January 1, 2024, averaging about four miles each day,” Walter shared, noting that a retreat with a classmate facing similar struggles inspired him.
“People don’t talk about mental health nearly enough.”
To motivate donations during his challenging run, he launched a GoFundMe page.
“I committed to running every day,” he explained. “There was this one massive storm… I used to rap in my backyard, and I just couldn’t afford to take a break.”
Things were going great for the dedicated athlete until he suffered a double fracture in his foot in April 2024, which hit hard.
Despite that setback, family support helped him surpass his original fundraising goal, reaching over $2,300.
“They covered about 200 miles for me. My grandparents were biking, and my sister really stepped up to run, while my mom, who wasn’t thrilled about it, went around the neighborhood,” he said.
“It shows they believe in the cause and care about me.”
Now back to health, Walter is close to hitting 850 miles, and he plans to finish by summer, reflecting on his experiences in an upcoming college essay.
“I’ve learned that if you’re not giving back to your community, then, really, what are you doing?” he remarked.
