As a crowd of people chanted and cheered and the song “Eye of the Tiger” played from someone’s truck speaker, Michael Kasper crossed a makeshift finish line, completing his roughly 218-mile run across the state of Illinois — one he began in Keokuk, Iowa on Wednesday morning.
“I think I’ll go home now,” Kasper said in his best Forrest Gump voice once he caught his breath, causing the crowd gathered round him to laugh and cheer.
Around a dozen people crossed the finish line with Kasper, including Hunter LaFave, owner of the organization Kasper was raising funds for, Its In Your Head.
“It’s such a testament to how strong people are, that when you’re motivated for something and your mind is right, you’re capable of anything and Michael’s proven that,'” LaFave said.
As of Sunday morning, Kasper’s run had raised more than $13,000 for the mental health organization.
After Kasper crossed the state line, just outside the I & I State Line Tavern, he was greeted by a warm embrace from his father, Chuck Kasper.
“It’s just the sheer volume of what he’s doing and why he’s doing it,” Chuck said, choking back tears. Michael had gotten into running after the tragic loss of his friend, Tyler Wilson, to suicide, according to Chuck. “He ran to get his head right.”
Next it was LaFave’s turn, and then Sarah Kasper, Michael’s wife. The two embraced for a long while among the crowd of supporters. There were tears all around.
“I’m just so proud of him,” Sarah said, crying tears of relief and gratitude, she said. “It’s just been so cool seeing everybody coming out here… My heart is on fire and open. I’m just so happy and so proud of him.”
This is a developing story.