He lost his mom to cancer. Now he’s running across America to help others

IDAHO FALLS – William Goodge is on a mission to run a 26-mile marathon in all 50 states in 24 days. The 32-year-old Englishman ran through Idaho Falls earlier this week and is planning to end his journey on Nov. 1 by competing in the New York City marathon.

“This is definitely the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” Goodge says.

EastIdahoNews.com spoke with Goodge on Wednesday after he finished a marathon in Sundance, Wyoming. While lying down in the back of an RV, he told us he was on his way to Nebraska. As of Thursday, he’s completed marathons in 11 states and has 39 to go.

During his stop in Idaho Falls, Goodge said he “hugged the Snake River,” which included a stop along the Riverwalk Greenbelt. He followed it north toward the Idaho State University campus near Idaho National Lab.

“It’s good for me to stay by water (to avoid) hills and elevation,” Goodge said. “It was a beautiful experience. A local English woman came out. She saw me in one of the newspapers, and I felt like I was well-received.”

Goodge says he and his team are working with Guinness to set a world record, but the purpose of the journey is to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer, an organization that helps provide cancer treatments for patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it.

Goodge says he’s doing this in honor of his mom, Amanda — who died of cancer nearly a decade ago. As of Thursday, his efforts have raised more than $24,000 for the organization.

Goodge was once a semi-professional Rugby player in Bedfordshire, England. He became an ultra-endurance runner in 2018.

“I had a lot of negative emotion (tied to my mother’s death) and running became my version of therapy,” Goodge explains. “I wasn’t good at talking about it, but if I was upset or angry … I’d go out for a run, exercise those emotions, and by the time I got back, I felt better.”

Over time, he says he needed a purpose and started raising funds for cancer charities. Goodge says helping others while working through his own challenges has provided a lot of healing.

“It felt like I was making it more than a sad story. I was using my mom as a reason to go and do great things,” he says. “I feel like she’s with me every step of the way. She’d be proud.”

Goodge says Stand Up To Cancer is a well-known organization in the UK and America, and the founders’ connection to a loved one who died of cancer is the reason he says he wanted to support them.

Co-founder Sue Schwartz says they’re honored Goodge selected their organization as the beneficiary of his cause.

“It’s amazing what he’s doing. It just takes my breath away,” Schwartz says. “We’re extremely grateful to William.”

Like-minded individuals can help Goodge in his efforts by hosting their own challenge. Anyone who raises $100 towards the cause can get a free T-shirt. Those who raise $500 or more get the exclusive Mission America and Stand Up To Cancer Gift Box.

If there’s one thing Goodge has learned along the way, he says it’s that pain can be used for good. After his mom’s death, he says he was faced with two paths — he could either be self-destructive or do something constructive, and he chose the latter.

His message to others going through a difficult time is to use it as an opportunity to do good.

“I’m doing something at an extreme level, which might not be viewed as healthy by most people,” he says. “You can do something creative — you can start a business. It’s a big driver for personal growth … and I want people to use their pain for power.”

To support Goodge in his cause or learn more, click here.

WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH GOODGE IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.