Illinois Teacher Runs The Entire Length Of The Mississippi River

An Aurora, Illinois teacher didn't just talk the talk. He ran the run.

There are plenty of ways to raise money for a good cause. You can organize a bake sale. You can hold a golf outing. You can ask friends and family to make a donation.

Or, if you're Grant Bell, you can decide to run the entire length of the Mississippi River.

Yes, run it. (big hat-tip to Patch for the details)

silhouette photo of a person running on road

Could You Run 2,139 Miles In Less Than Two Months?

The Aurora teacher and Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy educator recently completed a 2,139-mile journey from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to Venice, Louisiana, doing it in just 52 days. He averaged roughly 41 miles a day, with no scheduled rest days.

And if you're wondering just how far 2,139 miles really is, imagine running from Chicago to Los Angeles...and then running another roughly 100 miles after you get there.

Or picture running a marathon every day for nearly 81 consecutive days.

Bell somehow did the equivalent of more than 81 marathons, except he finished the whole thing in 52 days.

man in black jacket and pants running on green grass field during daytime

His Entire Run Was For A Great Cause

Grant Bell ran 2,139 miles while raising more than $12,000 for childhood cancer research, money he plans to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The cause is particularly personal. Bell's niece was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects children, teenagers and young adults.

Bell also spent part of his own childhood in a wheelchair because of a rare hip disorder, giving him another very personal connection to the challenges faced by kids dealing with serious illness.

person in red shirt standing near river during daytime

Oh, Did I Mention The World Record?

Another pretty remarkable part of all of this is that Bell apparently accidentally set a world record for the most miles run in a 30-day period. It wasn't his goal, and he only learned about it when a former college professor contacted him about halfway through the journey. He's now hoping to have the record officially certified by Guinness.

But honestly, the record might be the least important part of this story.

Here's an Aurora teacher who didn't just talk the talk about doing something good for other people.

He ran the run. For 2,139 miles. That's one heck of a summer vacation.