Mike’s Run Across America for Charities Delayed by Car Fire

A trainer at the Planet Fitness in Portsmouth who was supposed to start a cross country run Thursday in support of two Seacoast charities has been delayed after his equipment was destroyed in a car fire.

Mike Wilson was on track to start a 3,500 mile run from Santa Monica, California to Newburyport in support of  Lucy's Love Bus and Max Love Project, two charities he said "support the overall well-being and emotional healing of children with cancer during a painful and terrifying time."

The gear he needed for the run was destroyed in a car fire in California on Wednesday after his girlfriend Pauline was in a car crash, according to Wilson in a video on his Facebook page.

"Luckily she's okay for the most part. She's banged up a little bit on her leg but nothing too serious.  Long story short the car lit up in flames and everything I needed for the run across America got burnt," Wilson said "I'm going to have to postpone the run a week or so and get all my gear together."

He has created a GoFundMe page to help replace the gear including a tent, sleeping bag, jogging stroller, GoPro Camera, running shoes, portable charger, GPS unit, backpack and clothing.

Wilson, who bears a resemblance to a bearded Forrest Gump when he made his run in the 1993 movie said he stopped by a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant  and bought a "run forrest run" license plate for the stroller.

Once the run starts Wilson's goal is to raise $10 per mile for the 3,500 miles he'll be running across the country. Donations for the run can made at donations.lucyslovebus.org.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH