The name “Brian” means strong one - strong meaning physical and mental endurance.
Decked out in Asics, GORE-TEX and Oakleys with P.O.D. and Third Eye Blind blaring through his head, Brian Thomas will run on a solitary mission from Lake Orion, Mich., to St. Augustine, Fla., to raise money for children with cerebral palsy.
“I’ve always wanted to run across the country,” the kinesiology senior said. “I felt this was a good way to give something back to these children and finish my own goals.”
Thomas, 22, was referring to students at San Pedro Claver A.C., a private school in Mexico for children with cerebral palsy and autism. He met them in March when he and his fiancée, Kazimira Murr, participated in MSU’s Alternative Spring Break Program.
Originally, Thomas planned to solicit funding from cerebral palsy organizations but had a hard time getting them to help him.
In September, he began his own nonprofit organization, Breaking Point - Brian’s Run for Cerebral Palsy.
Thomas will leave from Lake Orion on Jan. 1 and will spend two to three months running on country highways and back roads.
His parents and his best friend, A.J. Mueller, will travel the same route in a car. And after reaching St. Augustine, the group will go to San Pedro Claver A.C. to personally deliver the money they received.
Thomas’ run is sponsored by various companies, including Red Bull and Asics. He has received attention from the media, including WDRQ (93.1 FM), a Detroit-based radio station.
Autumn Watt, a junior at Lake Orion High School, has cerebral palsy and heard about Thomas’ journey by reading an article in the local paper.
“I was almost in tears,” she said. “I wanted to help, I love him to death. I think it’s great, it’s something that he’s always wanted to do, but it’s also informing people on what cerebral palsy is and letting people know what it’s like to live with.”
Thomas said he is excited and, at times, slightly nervous.
“It’s natural to be afraid when you’re doing the unknown,” he said. “It helps to propel me to motivate me to work.”
He said the things he is looking forward to most are listening to music, seeing his fiancée when he’s done, seeing the kids at the school again and experiencing the feeling he gets when he’s running.
“Before I run, I can feel any number of different ways,” he said. “But when I start running and the music is pumping the adrenaline through my veins, I just feel great.”
Thomas said he has been involved in running his entire life. He has won many races including the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar International Marathon and the West Bloomfield Half Marathon.
When Thomas announced his quest, responses from his friends and family were mixed.
His mother, Stephanie Thomas, said she and her husband were less than pleased when they first heard about it, but their perception changed as their son showed his persevering determination.
“It was kind of like, ‘Brian, why do you have to do that?’” she said. “Quite honestly, we worry like parents worry, it could be dangerous, but now we back him 100 percent.
“An undefined adventure with my son is priceless.”
