A Jogger, A Mission, and a Message That Moved Us All
May 28, 2025 05:23PM ● By Sherrie Johnson
Andrea Prais in the middle of her run around the world, with Sherrie Johnson.
Angels come in many forms. They don’t always glow or have wings – at least not the kind we can see. Some just jog.
Meet Andrea Prais, 44, from Switzerland. On May 22, she jogged past our home in Gwenford, Idaho. Friendly and unassuming, she struck up a conversation with my husband Steve, who was out doing yardwork. That brief interaction left a deep impression on him, – so much so that when he couldn’t find a newspaper reporter, he sent me instead.
Serendipity works in mysterious way. By the time Andrea finished telling me her story, I was in tears. Her selflessness and dedication are not only inspiring – they’re unforgettable.
Andrea began her global run on December 21, 2024, in London. She’s affiliated with the World Runners Association, the international governing body for multi-day solo running and walking events involving a full circumnavigation of the Earth. Only eight people have ever completed this daunting journey. When she finishes, Andrea will become just the third woman to do so.
For someone like me – someone who dodges exercise like the plague – the obvious question was: Why? What drives a person to lace up their shoes and run around the world?
Her answer hit home in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Having lost my brother to pancreatic and liver cancer, seeing a dear friend and business partner spend her final days in hospice due to breast cancer, and now facing the recent diagnosis of ALS in someone I love deeply; Andrea’s mission was for people like them. For all of us.
After running from London to Land’s End, England in just ten days, Andrea flew to Buenos Aires, where she resumed her run on January 1, 2025. She crossed the Andes, ran through Argentina and Chile for a month then on through Puerto Rico and Patagonia. From there, she flew to Miami, ran up to Jacksonville, and continued through twelve states – eventually landing, by chance, in front of our home
Her mother and sister travel with her in a support van, driving ahead, parking, waiting, then following again. A small, devoted team quietly helping her chase an extraordinary dream.
“How do you finance something like this?” I asked. Andrea explained that she’s using her life savings – money she earned as a hospice nurse, caring for the terminally ill. Her purpose: “I want to bring more awareness to those at the end of life and their loved ones,” she said. “I’m focusing on increasing kindness in our society. I want people to talk, to think, and to have real conversations. This is for the living and the dying. For those who are struggling. For those who need to be seen and heard. Let’s do this together.”
When I asked whether she accepts donations, she said yes – but quickly emphasized that her primary goal isn’t money. It’s connection. Awareness. Compassion. She hopes to inspire people to talk about death and dying – subjects we often avoid until it’s too late.
“Most deaths don’t give you time or warning,” she said. “It’s in our hands, our decision, our choice – how we allocate our time and our resources.”
Andrea is not just running across continents. She’s running with purpose, carrying a message the world needs to hear.
She plans to complete her journey in the summer of 2026. After finishing her run across the United States in Oregon she will head to Japan – another leg in this incredible mission to circle the globe. Because life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass – it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
You can follow Andrea’s progress on her Strava page:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/129184991 or on Facebook:
