A Boyertown Teen Is Running Across The United States

BOYERTOWN, PA — When you see someone running along the sidewalks or along the side of the road, you can never be quite sure what their destination is. Sometimes it's a block, sometimes a mile, sometimes 10 miles away.

For at least one group of fundraisers, that number is in the thousands.

Amanda Murray, a 2018 graduate of Boyertown Area Senior High School, is currently in the midst of a run across the United States. She's participating in the Ulman 4k for Cancer, an epic cross-country relay-adventure to raise money and awareness for cancer.

"It is truly going to be an amazing journey that will be an adventure of a lifetime," Amanda's mother, Michelle Murray, said. "It will require a tremendous amount of physical and mental strength. It will be 49 days of forming friendships that will last a lifetime, visiting towns across our great country, running in the memory of or in the honor of many who have bravely fought the word we all dread to hear: cancer."

Currently a freshman at St. John's University, Amanda was inspired by two people very close to her who have had to suffer through cancer, according to her biography on the Ulman site. First her grandfather was diagnosed with brain cancer, and then her roommate at St. John's, Marina, defeated leukemia.

>>Donate to Ulman 4k for Cancer and Amanda's Run

"I constantly look at her in amazement as I have learned so much about her perseverance throughout her fight," Amanda said of Marina. "Including continuing to do what she loves. Marina loves to run, and she didn't stop for treatment or challenge. That is pure strength."

Amanda started with a group from San Francisco back on June 16. Each runner in the group completes an average of around 10 to 14 miles a day. Once a runner completes a stage, the next runner comes out of the supply van and takes over. Altogether, the group averages 75 to 80 miles per day.

Their goal is to finish in Baltimore on Aug. 3. But Amanda is already much closer to an even bigger goal: her fundraising target. She's already raised $5,537 out of her goal of $6,000. And this year's Ulman 4k campaign as a whole has raised more than $630,000.