JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Running one marathon is a big challenge, but a Jacksonville attorney is preparing to run seven marathons in seven days across all seven continents, all to help families with sick or injured children.
Mike Freed, a 58-year-old attorney with the Gunster law firm in Jacksonville, is participating in the Great World Race to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville.
Freed and Megan Weinstein, a representative from Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville, spoke with Kristine Bellino on In Depth about the upcoming challenge and how the community can help.
Seven marathons, seven continents
Freed will travel to Cape Town, South Africa, on November 12 before beginning his journey.
He will join 64 other runners from around the world to complete seven marathons, each covering 26.2 miles.
The first race will take place in Antarctica. From there, runners will travel to South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Portugal, Colombia and finally Miami, Florida.
The final race is scheduled for November 21.
Freed said he enjoys long-distance running, but this challenge is about more than reaching the finish line.
He wants to raise money and awareness for families staying at Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville.
“The Ronald McDonald House, Jacksonville is just a great place that does amazing things with limited resources for families when they’re going through their most difficult circumstances,” Freed said.
Running for a good cause
Freed has been participating in long-distance running events for about 10 years.
He first started running after deciding he wanted to help people in need. One of his earliest challenges was running from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.
Since then, his annual fundraising event, Freed to Run, has raised approximately $3.5 million to help children who need medical care and seniors facing housing insecurity.
Freed has also completed a 100-mile run in the Florida Keys.
Despite his experience, he knows running seven marathons in seven days will not be easy.
He said the challenge is just as much mental as it is physical.
“I’m not going to be breaking any speed records,” Freed said.
His main goal is to finish the races while raising as much money as possible for the organization.
Helping families during difficult times
Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville provides free housing, meals and transportation to families whose children are receiving medical treatment.
Weinstein explained that families can stay at the house for weeks, months or even a year, depending on their child’s medical needs.
The Jacksonville location has 53 rooms and serves approximately 9,000 families every year, according to Weinstein.
The organization also provides meals to families at Wolfson Children’s Hospital who do not want to leave their child’s bedside.
Weinstein said the goal is to make families feel comfortable and supported during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
She also explained that donations help provide everyday necessities, including cleaning supplies, pillowcases and other household items.
While toys are always appreciated, the organization also needs basic supplies to keep the house running.
How Jacksonville can help
Community members can support Freed’s challenge through a fundraising effort called Miles for Hope.
According to Weinstein, donations made through Miles for Hope go directly toward operating Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville.
People can also follow Freed’s journey through the organization’s social media accounts and his Freed to Run pages on Instagram and Facebook.
The organization will share updates throughout the challenge, including his progress across each continent.
Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville is also preparing for its annual 5K event on November 14.
The nighttime event will help kick off the holiday season with activities for children, a block party and holiday lights at the house.
Those interested in donating, volunteering, participating in the 5K or scheduling a tour can visit the Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville website.
Freed hopes his journey will encourage more people to support the families who depend on the organization.
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