Brit Henry Moores has set himself the massive task of running a marathon in every US state — and he’s shared the unexpected thing that’s ‘blown him away’ about Americans.
Henry is tackling the challenge in support of Be More Fab, a children’s cancer charity that helps young people understand what a cancer diagnosis means for them.
Alongside two of his closest friends, Tom and Olivia, he’s hopping from state to state, putting thousands of miles on the car between races, grabbing sleep wherever possible, and still finding a way to lace up and start again the next morning.
It’s the sort of ambitious plan that might sound like a throwaway promise made on a night out — except Henry has followed through, and he’s currently deep into the test of endurance.
Weeks into life on the road — with state lines crossed and roughly 14,000 miles logged behind the wheel — one part of the journey has genuinely taken him by surprise: how generous people have been to him and his friends.
“What has surprised me most is probably how kind people have been,” he says.
“We’ve met people who didn’t know us at all but still wanted to help, feed us, put us up or just encourage us. That has meant a lot.”
One standout moment happened in Sacramento, where Henry ran into a man whose sister had helped him with fundraising in Paris back in 2023. The meeting was pure chance, and a world away from where they’d first been connected.
The man welcomed all three of them in, sorted them out with food, and made sure they had supplies for the next stretch of travel. “The next day ended up being my fastest marathon because it gave us such a lift,” Henry says.
“If they ever come to England, they’re welcome at my house any time.”
Chicago brought its own timely boost too, with a group of young lads cheering him through a rough patch. “When you’re struggling, even a bit of support from strangers can give you such a boost.”
That kind of encouragement carries real weight on this trip, because the physical toll has been relentless — and Henry admits he didn’t exactly build up to it with a structured plan.
“I’ve done absolutely no training,” he says, almost cheerfully. “I’m definitely just overconfident.” But he’s clear that chasing athletic milestones isn’t what this is about.
“I’m not interested in getting a sub-two-hour marathon or anything like that, that’s not the point. I’m not an athlete. I’m just a young lad who walks everywhere and decided to take on something a bit ridiculous for a good cause.”
Even though his legs are, as he puts it, ‘in bits’, he keeps showing up and doing the miles.
Being so far from home has added another challenge on top of the running. With his family living in a different time zone, the moments he most wants to talk often don’t line up with when they’re awake — and he says that’s been hard to handle.
“The time difference from home has been really hard,” he admits. “When I’m awake, my family are asleep, so I can’t always speak to them when I need to. That’s been one of the toughest parts mentally.”
More than sore muscles or early starts, he says it’s the distance from family that’s hit him the most. “I love them so much that even thinking about them makes me upset because I feel like I need them here.”
There have been difficult stops along the way, and Las Vegas was one of the toughest — physically because of the heat, and emotionally because of what he saw while passing through.
“It was also difficult seeing so many homeless people there, especially in that heat. You can see people are really struggling, and that’s hard to take in when you’re moving through these places so quickly.”
And then there’s the reality of living in close quarters with the same two people, day after day, with little privacy and constant travel. “We’re definitely all having little tiffs,” Henry admits. “Like it or not, we’re three adults spending a huge amount of time together, with no work, no other people and not much personal space to distract us.”
Still, he says it’s never crossed into anything serious — just the strain you’d expect when everyone’s exhausted. “I’m so, so grateful to both of them. I genuinely couldn’t do this without Tom and Liv.”
Over time, the charity has become more than just the cause attached to the challenge. Henry says he’s built a real bond with Andy, one of Be More Fab’s co-founders, whose school visits help children understand cancer in a way that feels manageable rather than overwhelming.
“He’s such a natural at it. The way he can talk about something so difficult in a way children can understand is really special. When the days are hard, remembering the work Be More Fab does gives me a reason to keep going.”
Next up, he’s got Nashville and Florida on the route — “mainly for the food and the wildlife” — and he’s keeping his focus narrow to avoid being overwhelmed by how much is still ahead.
As for what happens when it’s finally done and he reaches New York, he isn’t picturing anything elaborate. “Honestly, I have no idea. I think I’ll just feel really happy and relieved that I don’t have to wake up and do another marathon the next morning. That will probably be the best feeling.”
Until then, the rhythm stays the same: wake up sore, pull on the shoes, and go again.
You can follow Henry’s journey on Instagram by clicking here. You can donate to his effort by clicking here.