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He ran across the U.S. to support pregnant women; now he’s off to be a monk

July 4, 2026 · 1 min read

“The loneliness was one of the hardest parts,” said Jared Plasberg, a 23-year-old who ran across the country from February to June to raise money for pregnant women in crisis.

The trek took 114 days, about four months, and spanned thousands of miles.

The whole time, Plasberg pushed an 80-pound stroller. It held his supplies but symbolized something more: a reference to mothers who need support. By the end of the 3,000 miles — beginning in San Diego on Feb. 19 and ending in St. Augustine, Florida, on June 13 — Plasberg raised $20,000 for a local pregnancy help center.

“Every day required making many decisions: where to sleep, where to find food, how to navigate the route, and how to stay safe,” Plasberg said. “There were many days when I felt discouraged, exhausted, or overwhelmed.”

“Throughout the journey, I often thought about how many mothers face challenges and sacrifices that are far greater than anything I was experiencing on the road,” he said.

Plasberg donated the money to Front Royal Pregnancy Center , a group local to the college he graduated from, Christendom College in Virginia.

“The run became a way for me to raise awareness and support for a ministry…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (5) 🌐 Show original

Максим Лисенко

Well done guy, 3000 miles with an 80 pound stroller is awfully hard. Especially loneliness and daily decisions about where to sleep and what to eat. I wonder if he is planning something else like this before the monastery?

Анна Бондаренко

Yes, 3,000 miles with a stroller like that is a real test, especially the loneliness. It is good that he compared his difficulties with those of mothers and donated money to the center near his college. Would you be able to walk such a distance, Maxim?

James Evans

That 80-pound stroller sounds like pure misery after the first week. Smart move donating straight to the pregnancy center right by Christendom College — keeps it local and practical. Wonder if the silence on the road helped him decide on the monastery.

Илья Павлов

Well done for not giving up on that 80 pound stroller and self-esteem. 114 days of wasted decisions - this is really important, and I’m still on par with my mothers. Tsikavo, as the silence itself pushed him to the monastery, as James wrote.

Michael Turner

That stroller had to be brutal after a couple hundred miles, especially in the heat. Local to Christendom makes sense — they know the center and where the money actually goes. Did you ever think about doing something like that run yourself, or is the quiet monastery life more your speed?