“Rosie Swale-Pope is on a mission to raise cancer awareness and to inspire people to live life to the fullest and to never give up. Her dedication to giving was inspired by a loss to cancer. “By the time my husband and I realized, it was too late to save him, and after he died in my arms, I felt if I stayed at home just crying and talking, who would listen to me? And I decided to run around the world”. In her trips around the world, the incredible 68-year-old has run 27 marathons, including the 300 mile Sahara Marathon, twice. In total, Rosie estimates that she’s run about 50,000 miles, sometimes across entire continents. She does all this with a small trailer that she wheels along behind her, which she holsters to her waist and around her shoulders. The trailer, which she has affectionately named “Icebird”, is her home when she’s on the road, and can sometimes weigh up to 300 pounds when it’s full with her belongings. Swale-Pope's current journey is focused on America. At the beginning of this year, she took off running from New York and has so far made her way south, spreading awareness and raising funds for the cause that is so dear to her heart”. – Rachel Charlip

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is interviewed while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. Swale-Pope, who is from Great Britain and once ran an unsupported 20,000 mile run around the globe, is currently running across the United States from New York City to San Francisco in support of cancer research. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is passed by traffic on US Route 50 while pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is interviewed while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope struggles with an uphill grade on U.S. Route 50 while pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is interviewed while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope runs on U.S. Route 50 while pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope runs on U.S. Route 50 while pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope removes her running shoes while in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope puts on her socks and running shoes in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is passed by traffic on Route U.S. 50 while pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope attaches herself to her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope attaches herself to her cart,“The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is interviewed while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is interviewed while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope is passed by traffic on Route US 50 while pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope rests after pulling her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope brushes her teeth while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sixty-eight year old cross-country runner Rosie Swale-Pope bundles up against the morning chill while sitting in her cart, “The Icebird”, in Upperville, Virginia March 13, 2015. (Photo by Gary Cameron/Reuters)