A 23-year-old college graduate completed a 3,000-mile run across the United States, raising $20,000 for a pregnancy support organization while undertaking what he described as a deeply spiritual pilgrimage that strengthened his discernment toward monastic life.
Jared Plasberg began the journey in San Diego on Feb. 19 and reached St. Augustine, Florida, on June 13 after 114 days on the road. Throughout the trek, he pushed an 80-pound stroller carrying his supplies, which also served as a symbol of support for women facing unexpected pregnancies.
Physical Challenges Tested Endurance
Plasberg said the expedition required daily decisions about food, lodging, navigation and personal safety while covering thousands of miles through varying terrain and weather conditions.
He described loneliness as one of the greatest challenges of the journey, recalling moments of exhaustion and discouragement that tested both his physical and mental resilience.
Despite those hardships, he said he frequently reflected on the far greater struggles experienced by mothers facing difficult pregnancies, which reinforced the purpose behind his fundraising effort.
Funds Benefit Virginia Pregnancy Resource Center
The proceeds from the run were donated to the Front Royal Pregnancy Center, located near Christendom College, where Plasberg graduated.
He said the fundraiser aimed not only to generate financial support but also to raise awareness of organizations that provide practical assistance to women during crisis pregnancies.
According to Plasberg, conversations sparked by the stroller often became opportunities to explain the mission of the pregnancy center to curious passersby.
Pilgrimage Inspired by Catholic Faith
Beyond fundraising, Plasberg described the cross-country run as a prayerful pilgrimage inspired by the historic Camino de Santiago.
Throughout the journey, he prayed for mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies, unborn children, staff and volunteers at the pregnancy center, family members, friends and numerous individuals who entrusted him with personal prayer intentions.
He said the extended periods of solitude strengthened his dependence on God and provided valuable time for spiritual reflection.
Pro-Life Convictions Motivated the Mission
Plasberg said his commitment to the pro-life movement developed during his years in college, when he regularly joined fellow students in praying the rosary outside abortion clinics.
He said he believes every human life possesses inherent dignity and cited quotations from Pope Benedict XVI and Pier Giorgio Frassati as enduring sources of inspiration.
Frassati’s motto, “Verso l’alto,” meaning “to the heights,” became a guiding theme throughout the journey, symbolizing both physical perseverance and spiritual growth.
Encounters Along the Route Leave Lasting Impact
During the four-month run, Plasberg met families, priests, religious communities and fellow travelers who offered hospitality, meals and encouragement.
He said strangers regularly welcomed him into their homes, prayed with him and treated him like family, experiences that deepened his appreciation for generosity and strengthened his faith.
The journey also brought encounters with widows, cyclists and ordinary individuals whose examples of kindness and perseverance left a lasting impression.
Meeting With Hermitess Reinforces Religious Calling
One of the most significant moments of the journey occurred in New Mexico, where Plasberg met a Catholic hermitess known as Amma Chiara after being introduced by a priest.
The woman shared that she had walked across the United States decades earlier before entering religious life, a story that resonated deeply with Plasberg because of the similarities to his own pilgrimage.
He said her joy, peace and devotion demonstrated that a life dedicated entirely to God could be deeply fulfilling rather than restrictive.
Preparing for Life as a Carthusian Monk
Plasberg is currently discerning a vocation with the Carthusian Order, one of the Catholic Church’s most contemplative monastic communities.
The order, founded by Bruno of Cologne in 1084, combines solitary prayer with communal worship, with monks spending much of their lives in silence inside individual hermitages while gathering for liturgical observances.
After spending time at the Grande Chartreuse in France, Plasberg was invited to enter as a postulant, the first formal stage of religious formation. He plans to relocate after obtaining a long-stay French visa.
Journey Strengthens Faith and Future Direction
Looking back on the experience, Plasberg said the months spent running across America exposed both his limitations and his dependence on God while confirming his desire to pursue a contemplative vocation.
He concluded that holiness is achieved not through personal strength but through humility, gratitude and allowing God to work through human weakness.
For Plasberg, the cross-country run became more than an endurance challenge—it marked a transformative chapter that combined charitable service, personal sacrifice and spiritual discernment into a single journey.
