Cross country runner goes through West Liberty, Atalissa
by Gregory R. Norfleet · July 28, 2010

For 28 years, Jill Kumlien has battled multiple sclerosis, and her daughter, Ashley, wishes for a cure.

A runner for 12 years, the younger Kumlien decided to quit her job on a cruise ship and spend six months running from San Francisco to New York, raising awareness and funding for research along the way.

“Running is something I really love,” she said July 21 during a stop in Downey, “and I really wanted to raise money and awareness of a disease that really affected my family.”

Kumlien finished her Wednesday, July 21, portion by running along Highway 6 through West Liberty toward Atalissa.

Kumlien, of Brookfield, Wis., will run 3,230 miles along the way, 10 to 15 miles twice a day, six days a week, to reach her goal of $500,000. She has already raised nearly $25,000 to fund the run itself as she travels across the United States with her fiancé, Andrew, who drives a car designed with a wrap to promote the project. Andrew also quit his cruise ship job to help.

Kumlien’s path across the United States is taking her to cities with Marcus Theaters, which partnered with MS Run the U.S. by hosting question-and-answer sessions for her and are showing Without Limits, a 1998 biopic of world renown runner Steve Prefontaine, and forwarding ticket sales to the organization. One of those stops was at Sycamore Cinemas in Iowa City.

Kumlien said all the money raised will go toward the Montel Williams MS Foundation and the National MS Society.

Kumlien said several people have joined her run as she passed through their areas.

“I welcome the company,” she said.

She rotates three pairs of shoes and has worn out four of the 11 pairs she brought along.

For those wishing to follow her journey, Kumlien blogs a couple of times each week. Her trip has taken her through a couple of car shows, a tractor show and, in Nebraska, she was allowed to join a parade.

But, she said, she never wishes she was somewhere else when running.

“I enjoy the place I’m running,” she said. “I like to take in what the states and cities have to offer.”