Since setting out on a challenge to recreate Forrest Gump’s journey across America in October of last year, Kilmersdon runner, Jim Plunkett-Cole, has taken the nation by storm, having started his journey at the USS Alabama in Mobile, he is now almost 3,000 miles into the challenge.

The idea of the challenge, which is a personal one as well as an opportunity to educate children on being active every day, was to complete the 20,000 mile run in three years, during which he plans to visit schools and community groups across the States to spread the word.

So far, he has spoken to 2,000 children at eight different schools, gained sponsorships, met a variety of interesting people and caught the attention of big news organisations, like The Washington Post and Fox News. Most recently, he made his second appearance on Lauren Laverne’s Morning Show on BBC6 Music, taking part in Desert Island Disco last Friday, 20th January, where as well as picking his favourite running songs, he talked about his adventures so far.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I’m currently 2,500 miles through and have visited eight schools and 2,000 children. I started from the USS Alabama in Mobile on 1st October 2016 as planned. I ran out of Alabama and into the State of Mississippi and into the heat of New Orleans, crossing the mighty Mississippi river there for the first time, but hoping that it won’t be the last time.

“I ran out of Mississippi and into the State of Louisiana, through the remoteness and isolation and heat and mosquitoes of the Louisiana outback. I saw alligators, turtles, herons, snakes and spiders, and magnificent owls. This was followed by a dozen curious, oinking, furry, black shapes, which emerged from long grass as the sun was setting, and which turned out to be wild pigs.

“I ran along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline for many miles, including a full marathon on the sand towards Galveston.

“I ran into Houston and started to visit schools whilst running 500 miles around the streets of America’s fourth largest city. I visited four schools there and the children seemed to love my visit. After Houston, I ran to Austin, San Antonio and I’m now in San Angelo. Amazing cities with great people and great culture.”

To hear the full interview and Jim’s Desert Island Disco playlist, go online to the BBC iPlayer Radio page. If you don’t manage to catch the interview, don’t worry, Jim has been keeping his followers updated on social media, telling of random acts of kindness from strangers offering him help or money as he passes through and the engagement of the children he meets and speaks to about the importance of leaving their TV screens behind and being out in the world around them, exploring nature and keeping active.

He also shared the news that the Nord Anglia Education organisation are now sponsoring his trip through six US states, including New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina Texas, Florida and Washington DC, giving him the opportunity to visit nine of their schools.

Speaking via his Facebook page, Jim said: “I’m obviously incredibly excited about this. It means that I can get my message across in many of the biggest cities in North America over the next few months.”

Jim is doing incredibly well currently and plans to keep going for as long as he possibly can. His days are long, because as well as fitting in the school visits, social media and of course, the daily run, which can be around 17-18 miles a day, he is without a support crew and having to organise where he will sleep from one day to the next, organising supplies to be moved to the next destination. As well as all of this, he is also having to continue working for a few hours each day to keep his business back in the UK going.

To keep up with Jim’s travels as he continues on his journey across America, follow the JimGump page on Facebook or go to Twitter.com/JimPlunkettCole