Man Departs Delaware for Cross-Country Suicide Awareness Run in Mom's Memory

For years, running has served as a coping mechanism for Phil King.

Now, the Crystal Lake, Illinois native is running for more than himself. And he's doing so with a Delaware connection.

The 33-year-old kicked off a cross-country run at Cape Henlopen State Park to promote awareness for suicide prevention.

King's mother, Lisa, was diagnosed with cancer when he was 8. Over the years, the cancer spread and her health began to decline. Ultimately, she was left with health issues which made the organic chemist feel unlike herself. She committed suicide Jan. 8, 2014.

"She was so important to me," he said. "I could go to her with anything and get great advice and be completely honest."

About six months later, as life was starting to get normal for him, again, his best friend also committed suicide.

He is running in their memory and to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

It's something the avid runner has never done, to this extent. He's run 100 miles a week for a few years now.

But on this trip, he plans to run 26 to 30 miles per day, totaling about 4,800 miles through 12 states along the American Discovery Trail. He's brought 16 pairs of shoes with him, as a way to try to prevent injury.

His friend, Steve Wizniak, will follow him in a RV.

"Over the years he's become a brother to me. He's been just insane about running since I've met him," Wizniak said. "He's the only one I know that could do it, that's for sure."

Part of the point of the run, King said, is to suffer and persevere from it. He knows the run will be a trip of adjustments.

"I want to step well outside my comfort zone and get to the point where I'm going to be struggling," he said. "It will be symbolic, no matter what obstacles are in the way, to keep going every day."

He's excited to see new scenes and countless towns, spreading his message and bringing attention to suicide prevention.

"You take it in differently on foot compared to in a car," he said. "I get to slow down and appreciate the sense of time everywhere I go and get to know the people."

King plans to be transparent about the progress of his run. A GPS monitor attached to him will update every 10 minutes to the web with his location. He plans to shoot videos and be diligent on social media as a way to spread the word.

These measures are put in place both to keep himself accountable and to give people a first-hand look at what it's like to do a cross-country run.

"I want to meet as many people as possible who are involved and care about mental illness in general," he said.

In the moments leading up to the start of the run, he embraced his father, Daniel, and they shared some words.

Daniel King worries about the unknown, but knows his son is prepared for the journey. He plans to meet him at least once a month to check in and deliver supplies.

"A 20-mile run, to him, is pretty much a walk in the park," he said. "He's going to have to kick himself in the butt here and there and I'll have to give him a kick in the butt either from long distance or closer."

Phil King then walked out to the Atlantic Ocean and took out his phone to snap a photo. He stood at its break, embraced a few waves, turned west and ran.

He plans to arrive at the west coast in mid- to late-October.

But for now, he will explore the country by foot for his cause.

"It's not exactly why I want to be doing something like this, but I couldn't be more excited," he said. "I know this journey is going to be the time of my life."