Community, Compassion and a 390-Mile Run
by Bella Lockwood
For as long as he can remember, 19-year-old Brandon Schutt harbored a heartfelt dream: to give back to the community that has supported him. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) student has always had a passion for running. Inspired by his favorite athlete, Hellah Sidibe, the first African American man to run across the United States, Schutt wanted to transform his favorite hobby into a powerful force for positive change.
After months of careful consideration and meticulous planning, Schutt knew what he wanted to do. His goal was to run across Nebraska, from the Colorado border back to his hometown of Bellevue, while raising money for Make-A-Wish Nebraska, Children’s Nebraska, Community Alliance and the Stephen Center. Schutt stated he believes it is a person’s moral obligation to help those around you in need if you are able.
“I wanted to do something that reached the entire community in a way that was impactful,” said Schutt. “I knew that I could focus more specifically on an issue or group of people in the metro area, but I wanted to mix it together. The goal was to try and help as many people as possible.”
On May 31, Schutt embarked on his 390-mile journey across Nebraska. On his trek, he was accompanied by nine of his closest friends and his dad who cheered him on while riding alongside him. They all called an RV home for 11 days; the expedition proved to be far from comfortable.
“The first night was the hardest experience I think I’ve ever had in my entire life,” said Schutt. Almost immediately into the trip, Schutt suffered an injury to his iliotibial band, that made running excruciating. In addition, Schutt and his team felt as though they were hitting every roadblock imaginable, from tires popping, to coming across rattlesnakes to realizing they were on the wrong route 10 miles in.
Schutt’s injury greatly impacted his daily running regimen. Instead of his ambitious goal of covering an impressive 40 miles each day, Schutt found himself limited to completing a mere four miles on the second day. This marked a stark and disheartening contrast to his initial aspirations, leaving Schutt and his crew feeling a deep sense of discouragement. “We sat down as a group and had a one-hour meeting where it was my entire team and we kind of figured out our options,” said Schutt. “We can either bite the bullet and turn back or we just dig in deep, work together and figure this out. We decided that we weren’t going back.”
Once the team decided to persevere, Schutt found that he had more drive than ever before. Rather than allowing the setbacks he faced to derail his mission, he used them as motivation to try even harder. On day three, he ran a total of 85 miles as his friends biked alongside him, using him as a “human relay baton.” Schutt was quick to acknowledge the pivotal role that his community, especially UNO, played in bolstering his mission. He emphasized that the support he received was not confined to familiar faces but extended to the broader community, even encompassing the kindness of strangers from across the nation. Many news outlets, including The New York Times, Good Morning America and several local media outlets published stories regarding his philanthropic mission.
Ultimately, Schutt’s mission raised a remarkable $27,905, a testament to the compassion and generosity of those who believed in his vision. His journey across Nebraska serves as a vivid reminder that when a dream is fueled by passion, supported by a dedicated community and driven by unwavering determination, it has the power to create lasting change.