TEMPE, Ariz. — Bridger Deaton believes in doing hard things. Three years ago, he struggled to run three miles. On Saturday, May 2, the 25-year-old Tempe resident will begin a 350-mile trek across the state of Arizona to raise money for families facing cancer.
Deaton hopes to complete the journey in seven to eight days, and this is more than a personal fitness milestone. It’s a mission born from his own battle with skin cancer, a diagnosis he received just one year ago.
The Route and the Mission
Deaton plans to average roughly 50 miles per day. His route begins in Lupton, on the eastern edge of the state, and follows Interstate 40 west until he reaches Bullhead City.
While Deaton has progressed from half-marathons to Half Ironman competitions, this trek represents a massive jump. To date, his longest single run is 30 miles, but Deaton said the mental hurdle is the primary obstacle…