California Man Will Begin His Third Transcontinental Run across America in New York City

VACAVILLE, Calif. - Feb. 2, 2015 - PRLog -- More people have walked on the surface of the Moon than have Run across America a total of three times. 31-year-old Noah Coughlan has just twenty seven days until he begins his third Coast to Coast journey on foot across the continental United States of America. Introducing the 2015 Run for Rare, a 3,100 mile Run across America from New York City to Ocean Beach in San Diego starting on February 28^th, 2015.

His Goal- To Bring Awareness, Support, and Positive Impact To The Rare Disease Community and the 30 Million Americans affected by a Rare Disease

The journey started as just a big idea in 2010 to help two Vacaville childhood friends battling a rare brain disease called Batten Disease. On the initial 2011 Run for Research, Noah completed the 132 day, 2,500 mile Run across America from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL supported by a road crew and support vehicle. What began as just a local idea, blossomed into a full-fledged international awareness campaign as Noah ran for the entire Batten Disease community for children in Ireland, Canada, Australia, the U.K. and beyond. Noah met with affected families and children and completed dozens of TV and media interviews. Coughlan became just the 222^nd person to ever cross the United States on foot.

Astonishingly, two years later, Noah followed up with an appropriate encore also for Batten Disease Awareness on the 2013 Run Coast 2 Coast, a 3,100 mile run from Half Moon Bay, CA to Boston, MA, by running solo and self supported and pushing a 90 pound jogging stroller with supplies.

Noah wasn’t entirely alone on his 2013 journey however. He carried a large American Flag as a symbol of unity, a symbol of hope, and as a statement that we are stronger together. He simply wanted to carry it based on his respect for the flag and love for one’s country. To Coughlan, the flag provided protection and what her stars symbolized—the heavens and the goals to which humankind aspires. His respect for his country, his unwavering patriotism, his genuine desire to serve others, and positive activism was remarkable and refreshing. As months passed and Coughlan ran, the flag became something more to him, and it quickly became a beacon of hope to the American people.

Coughlan was humbled by the generosity of people, from incredible support of families to total strangers who hadn’t even heard of the disease until then. He wanted to lift the spirit of the American people at every stop on his trip. People were ready for Coughlan’s optimism. When towns saw the flag coming, they saw inspiration coming.

The unscripted journey took Coughlan through America’s most hallowed grounds. In the final month, Coughlan visited the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA. In the final week, Noah spoke to the Newtown high school students at Sandy Hook, CT. On the final day, Coughlan was honored with a large Presidential Police escort by the State of Massachusetts and Boston Police Department as they escorted him past Boylston Street and to the Atlantic. On the final step, the United States Marines Corps saluted the American Flag as Coughlan stepped into the Atlantic Ocean.

Noah ran an average of 30 miles per day through 17 States, 9 mountain ranges, and 3 deserts becoming just the 28^th person to ever cross America on foot twice.

On February 28^th, 2015, Coughlan begins his third transcontinental Run across America to honor the 30 million Americans and 350 million individuals worldwide battling a Rare Disease. Noah will pass through the Nation’s capital in Washington D.C. in the middle of March. Noah Coughlan has made it his mission to motivate support for the Rare Disease community by doing something that could not be ignored - Run across the continental United States.

On Independence Day, July 4^th, Coughlan will complete his 3^rd Run across America and take the final step of the final Run into the Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach in San Diego- the exact spot of the first step of the first Run.  If Noah successfully completes the 3^rd Run across America, he will become just the 3^rd person to ever cross America on foot a total of 3 times. The feat has been accomplished by two runners from Sweden, Rune Larsson and Bjorn Suneson, who have Run across America four times each.

Coughlan will again be taking the American Flag, but not just any American Flag. In November 2014, on behalf of the United States Air Force, Travis Air Force Base gave Coughlan a commendation and an American Flag recently flown over Iraq from a base in the United States Central Command's Area of Responsibility. Noah proudly states in his speeches to schools and civic groups, “America is defined by Her People and their willingness to come together and lift each other up and help each other out.”

Coughlan is joined in his efforts with a documentary film team from Luminous Media Group in anticipation of the feature length documentary release in early 2016.

To learn more about the 2015 Run for Rare, support Coughlan, or for more information, please visit http://www.run4rare.org

Media Contact
info@run4rare.org