Running The Country

David Wilcox wants to become the youngest person to run across America.
If Brett can keep up with David, they will become the first father and son team to complete this transcontinental run. Kris and Olivia will crew for David and Brett.

We live in Sitka, Alaska—a town of 9,000 people on Baranof Island in Alaska’s panhandle. Sitka has about 15 miles of paved road. That’s the distance we need to run each day to cross the country in eight months.

David provided the initial inspiration for this run. And he got his inspiration back in 2010 when he was only 11 years old. Brett had surfed upon a great story of a 17-year old girl—Jasmine “Jazzy” Jordan—who had just completed this transcon run. The article said that Jazzy was one of the youngest people to run across America.

Brett showed the story—complete with photos of Jazzy running along the side of the road—to David. David didn’t miss a beat. “I want to do that,” he said. “I want to run across America.”

Sure! But as relatively sane and responsible parents, Brett and Kris knew that running the country wasn’t going to happen. You know the routine: work, bills, school, homework, bills, band, chores, dance, scouts, bills, dinner, dishes, etc.

But David didn’t forget the dream. Finally he asked, “Dad, are we gonna run across America?”

Hmmmmmm. What do you say to your son when he looks you in the eye and asks you a question like that?

“No?”

“I’d sure like to, but . . .?”

“It’s good to dream, but . . .?”

David’s questioning Brett and Kris to question as well. How could they possibly set aside their jobs and responsibilities long enough to turn David’s dream into a vibrant, sweaty, sole-pounding reality?

David’s persistence finally opened up his parents minds and hearts, until they were able to say, “Yes, David! Let’s make it happen!”

There is something powerful in saying “Yes” to life and “Yes” to epic challenges. Since the time Brett and Kris joined David in his dream, the “Yes” keeps growing stronger and stronger.

“Yes, David! We’ll make this happen!” Brett and Kris are committed to make this adventure a huge success.

David is now facing a few challenges of his own. David’s shy. He doesn’t consider himself to be a public speaker. He’s embarrassed when people make a fuss over his accomplishments.

But he’s working hard to overcome this challenge. In February, David was invited to speak at Sitka’s “No GMO salmon rally.” (Sitkans organized and supported the rally because the FDA is poised to approve GMO salmon.) And speak he did! With cameras flashing and Sitkans cheering, David quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

“GMO salmon is evil, David added. “By being here today and protesting against GMO salmon, you are standing up for what is right.”

Later, he spoke at the local Rotary Club, and told the Rotarians why he’s running the country.

Speaking of challenges, the people of the world face one of the biggest challenges in Earth’s history: powerful corporate entities such as Monsanto dominate world agriculture, and they are now disseminating genetically modified organisms—unnatural life forms they can neither control nor understand—into the environment. The health, human, political, and environmental costs are and will be beyond measure.

The Wilcox family is running the country because it’s not right that corporations like Monsanto are running the country.

Imagine being the youngest person to run across America. Not only that. Imagine making the actual run! Imagine being the only father and son team to make this run!
Imagine running to promote a safe and natural food supply.

David’s got guts. He’s got big dreams and he’s got the heart, lungs, legs, and passion to turn those dreams into reality.

He has lit a fire within the hearts of his sister and parents!

Now, together they are sharing that fire with the people of the world.

Millions of people would love to see David become the youngest person to run across America. And billions would love to see Monsanto and their gang of bullies kicked out of their countries and their food supply.

David’s run will happen. David’s run will make a difference, potentially a huge difference!

The count down is on. David turns 15 on November 13, 2013. The actual run will start in January 2014. But the preparation is well underway.

Join us! Run with us! Support us any way you can. Donate! Use social media to spread the word! Share! Like! Tweet! Post! Etc.

We’re Running The Country!

Thank You For Running With Us!