Woman, 57, runs breadth of America in support of 9/11 memorial cycle trail

A 57 year old woman is running the breadth of the USA to raise funds for a 9/11 charity that aims to build a memorial cycle trail linking the three terrorist crash sites in New York City, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania.

Jan Walker, an ultra distance runner began her Rise Up for the Fallen: Run Across America on March 1 in Oceanside, California, and will arrive at the Pentagon Memorial this summer.

She has managed to cross the Mississippi River and is now in Memphis, having run more than 3,000 miles.

“It is just good to be home,” Walker, who comes from Knoxville, told WMC Action News.

“West Tennessee is Tennessee. It'll even feel better when I get to Knoxville. It almost feels like a security blanket coming into the home state.”

On her website she wrote: “I am running for The 9/11 National Memorial Trail Alliance, working to establish a National Memorial Trail (a multi-use run, hike, bike trail) connecting the three 9/11 Memorial crash sites.

“It would be the first of it's kind in the US, as there currently are no federally designated "National Memorial" Trails in existence. When it's finished, it will be an approximately 1100 mile long triangle shaped route linking the Pentagon Memorial, Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA, and the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.

“The September 11th National Memorial Trail is a 1,100 mile symbol of resiliency and character that links the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C and the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“It serves as a tribute to the fallen men and women who perished on September 11, 2001.

“The multipurpose trail system provides cyclists, hikers and walkers a valued public resource and an opportunity to experience breathtaking landscapes, meet new towns and engage in this unique historic trail.

“Through the efforts of The September 11th Trail Alliance, along with cooperation of local and state governments, assistance of federal agencies, and great friendships of East Coast Greenway, the trail has been given life.”