Back in 2013, The Journal began reporting on the incredible achievements of two friends and a very special dog, who completed a 10k run every single day throughout that year and raised over £20,000 for

several different charities. This idea evolved, with Kilmersdon runner, Jim Plunkett-Cole, continuing the 10ks and setting up the kx365 challenge in 2014, which has seen many people across the local area take part in a daily challenge to push themselves that little bit further, have fun and get fit, an initiative that is still going today, with the aim of signing up one thousand people in 2017.

Last year, Jim began a different challenge that was to push him to the limit, a triathlon every single day, mainly to see if his body would be up to such a feat (it was). Whilst working full-time as a self-employed economist, he was also giving ‘talk and run’ presentations to 3,000 local schoolchildren in fifteen different schools about his experiences; trying to encourage young people to become more active in their day-to-day lives.

It was whilst these visits were taking place that an idea began to form, with Jim deciding that he would attempt to emulate the character from the well-known film, Forrest Gump, who famously ran for 1,172 days across America. But most importantly, Jim is hoping to spread the word about the importance of an active lifestyle as he travels across the States – a feat which, if successful, will mean he is away from home for three years.

Flying out on Tuesday this week, Jim has set off with fellow running friend, 25-year-old Arthur Hayford-Taylor, who will be acting as support crew, with friends back at home helping to organise their route and set up visits. In an exciting development, he has been approached by the Home Schooling Network in America, and hopes to work alongside the organisation to bring virtual talks to children who are learning from home, of which there are many.

The pair land in Tampa, Florida, where they will pick up a 30ft RV to support them along the way, which they have on hire for the first two months. They then have a two day, 800 mile drive to Alabama, where Jim will begin his run from the USS Alabama battleship, a now floating museum once saved from the scrapheap by local children and a fundraising campaign. The ship served in WWII, Vietnam and Korea, and along with its location, Jim thought it the perfect place to start, with Forrest Gump also serving in Vietnam in the film.

From 1st October, he will run thirty miles to Bayou La Batre, a fishing village which features in Forrest Gump. After that, he will be running around 16–17 miles per day and trying to have as many adventures as possible, which will all be documented for everyone at home to follow via social media, whilst spreading the word to local schools. No doubt as he runs, attention and momentum will build and who knows where it will lead!

Speaking about the challenge before his departure, Jim said: “This is an interesting and unique challenge, and I want to understand America and its culture, encouraging children and adults to be active, and will also be promoting the kx365 challenge whilst I am there. I won’t be talking about obesity or weight, as I don’t want to tell people what to do, but to remain positive about how keeping active can change lives.

“This is bigger than Forrest Gump. The famous film is the vehicle by which I can promote the challenge and spread the word – and it doesn’t have to be all about running, for example, I plan to do some open water swimming too, whilst I’m there. Whatever makes people more active, be it running, swimming, walking – it all counts.

“I can’t deny that the attention is not hugely motivational; it is. But for me, this is going to be a journey about people from someone who struggles with people. The running isn’t really the challenge, for me, it will be about engaging with others in a vast country.”

Jim has Asperger’s Syndrome and so finds small talk and untold social rules difficult to engage with, for example, being at a dinner party or thrown into situations where he is meeting new people can be very difficult for him, and will be the biggest part of the journey. A way of overcoming this has always been alongside his faithful dog, Alfredo, who sadly passed away recently, but whom Jim referred to as his ‘Aspie Guide Dog’.

Already he has made huge steps with the school presentations, and it is this, to some degreee, which has spurred him on. He also has polycystic kidney disease, which he believes has been kept at bay by being so active.

“I want to make a difference in a positive way and use my strengths to overcome my weaknesses,” he said. “Life is extremely short. If you can make a difference in your life, then you have made your mark on the planet. What I’ve achieved so far is pretty cool, but I see the JimGump challenge as the biggest achievement of all, unless the kx365 became like parkrun.”

Jim has a six-month tourist visa, and two month hire of the vehicle, so just a short time to get the momentum behind him to be able to extend his stay. He’ll be taking a much treasured letter he received from one of the children he has inspired along the way and a flag on his backpack, following advice from well-known long-distance runner, John Reynolds, who has been offering his support. At the end of every day, Jim plans to draw a chalk outline of the kx365 hare logo in tribute to his friend, Martin Lee, who designed it, but passed away recently, and a momento of his late mother, who also died of cancer since the challenge began. Last week, on the 15th September, he celebrated his 10,000th mile since 2013, made more special by the fact that this was the day that Forrest Gump began his run in the film. All of us at The Journal wish you the very best of luck, Jim!

To follow the challenge, search for JimGump via Facebook and we also hope to update readers on his progress.