A year ago, Sammy Jesmer couldn’t run 10 miles. But in a month, he plans to run 100 – and for a very good cause.

 

“I want to raise money for the Chris Norton Foundation. He is a paraplegic, and he made a foundation to help people gain mobility and do things they weren’t able to do before,” said Jesmer, a Bridgeport High School graduate who now lives in Florida.

 

The nonstop run from Key Largo to Key West will take about 30 hours. By the scheduled date of Sept. 18, he should be ready.

 

“Right now, I’m running 30 to 50 miles per week,” he said. “I keep adding distance to my run, but every four weeks, I take a recovery, running like 20 miles per week.”

 

Jesmer has tested his endurance by running two marathons, both held in February in Fort Lauderdale.

 

His aspiration for the 100-mile run?

 

“I really want to expand the odds of human capability and conquering something people don’t think they can do,” he said. “Along the way, I want to impact other people’s lives, showing them things are possible even though they don’t think so.”

 

When Jesmer decided to put his plan into action, he hired a running coach.

 

“I’m obviously not a professional athlete and I wanted to make sure I completed this,” said the former BHS baseball athlete and Fairmont State rowing team member.

 

Then, he sought out a cause to support. He was watching a Netflix documentary when he discovered the ideal beneficiary.

“When I started training for the marathon, it just clicked that I could do whatever I wanted to do as long as I trained for it,” said Jesmer who later learned while watching the documentary that Chris Norton put a similar quest into action. “He trained for more than a year to be able to walk at his wedding.

 

Jesmer hopes to raise $10,000 for the Chris Norton Foundation and he has contacted him to tell him.

 

“We’ve talked a few times. He’s pretty pumped about it,” Jesmer said.

 

The run will take physical, mental and strategic planning.

 

“I have friends who will set up fueling stations every five or seven miles and some friends will be running portions of the route with me,” said Jesmer.

 

Accompanying him on the last 10-mile leg of the run is his brother Bobby Jesmer who he said is more of an endurance athlete.

 

Jesmer, who works in construction management, relocated to Florida after his 2019 FSU graduation and besides a short stint living in Charlotte, NC, has resided there since.

 

Currently, $1,365 has been raised. Make a donation HERE at the event Go Fund Me page. Learn about the Chris Norton Foundaton HERE.

 

Editor's Note: Photos taken following the two marathons which Jesmer did in February.