In 2011, MJFF staff member Sam Fox (no relation to Michal J. Fox) ran more than 2,500 miles from Canada to Mexico on the Pacific Crest Trail. Dedicating the run to his mother, Lucy, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than a decade ago, he raised over $150,000 for Team Fox along the way.  Sam has been waiting to hit the pavement again with a new challenge, and thanks to all of your suggestions in the #GoSamGo Facebook contest, he now has one. Read his announcement below.

After sifting through all of the suggestions from Facebook, personal e-mail, and Twitter, we have finally decided what my next challenge will be. And in the spirit of Team Fox collaboration, we combined some of our favorite suggestions to make the decision. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and your creative (and sometimes crazy) ideas. So, here it is:

Alongside Team Fox members and many others affected by Parkinson’s disease, I will climb to the highest point in each of the 48 contiguous United States. But there’s more. Because I’m always up for an extreme physical challenge, I’ll also be riding a bike from mountain to mountain. My route will take me through every one of the lower 48 states and will cover nearly 12,000 miles of American scenery.   The challenge begins in April 2014 and will last throughout the summer. While I know this will be a grueling physical challenge and a test of both mental and physical endurance, I’m still excited for it. Mostly because this time, I’ll be joined by hundreds, or hopefully thousands of others who share my passion for this cause and will help raise critical funds for Parkinson’s research.

I know how difficult multi-month endurance challenges can be. I know how lonely you can feel “on the trail,” and I know all too well the physical toll that months of non-stop movement can take on your body.  In order to complete the planned route in one summer I’ll need to ride more than 100 miles every day and I won’t ever have a day off.  I will train hard, and I’ll be as ready as I can be, but I know to be prepared for pain. In fact I welcome it. The reason I’m willing to push myself to extreme physical limits is because I want to empathize with my mother; to feel what she feels. My mom, Lucy, was diagnosed with PD more than a decade ago. These challenges give me the opportunity to experience just a fraction of what she does with her symptoms each day. The difference is that my challenges are finite while my mom’s, and so many others’ with Parkinson’s, are not.

There may be pain and exhaustion on this journey, but I don’t think I’ll be lonely. Everybody and anybody is invited to join me on the road or the trail. Will you ride a few miles with me? Or maybe you want to climb one of the 48 peaks on the list? Whether you have Parkinson’s yourself or you want to honor a loved one who does, by climbing, riding, or simply coming out to support those who do, you can send a message that Parkinson’s disease will not stop you from moving and acting with a purpose. Together we’ll tell a triumphant story of Parkinson’s disease, one mile and one mountain at a time, across the entire country.

Let Sam know you’re interested in joining him by tweeting him @SamFoxMJFF using the hashtag #GoSamGo.  Learn more about the route including a map of the Sam’s next extreme challenge here.