DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines resident Jacob Huskisson doesn’t exactly consider himself a runner.
But for five straight years during a special weekend in March, he's certainly done a lot of running.
“It just started as something that . . . I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and I wanted to push myself," Huskisson said.
Every year, Huskisson sets out to complete what he calls the "5x4x48 challenge": Run five miles, every four hours, for 48 hours straight.
While it might sound a little crazy, there’s a reason behind the running.
“As the years went on, as I continued doing it, I got some support from friends to add a charity to it," Huskisson told Local 5. "I started making it more involved with social media.”
The added attention has turned into added fundraising. Huskisson has raised more than $11,000 over the years for charities of his choosing.
"I'm incredibly lucky that I did this and I got such support from my friends and family," he said. "They were the ones that supported me to put a cause behind it."
Huskisson began this year's challenge at 8 p.m. Friday, running through the weekend. This year’s fundraising recipient was inspired by his furry friend and running sidekick, Jimmy.
"The last two years, we've supported K9s for Warriors," Huskisson said. "I found my dog Jimmy on the side of the road, and they support dogs and shelters, and you know, owner surrenders and stuff."
To make the challenge more interactive, Huskisson posted a list of incentives, or "punishments," as he calls them, to his social media. Based on the level of donation, his friends and family could challenge him do something while running, like hold a toaster or eat a cheeseburger halfway through.
For his last run Sunday afternoon, he took on the extra challenge of carrying a log on his back. About a mile in, Huskisson suffered a leg injury, but the small setback was no match for his drive and determination.
He finished with a smile on his face, and raised more $10,000 raised along the way. His workplace is also hoping to match the final total he raises, which could bring this year's fundraising to over $20,000.
“It’s really easy to just live your life in cruise control," Huskisson said after finishing the challenge. "Just the fact of not quitting, of putting being able to finish a tough race and push myself beyond what you know, and then obviously, raise money for good cause, it's a great feeling."
Donations are still being accepted on the website for Huskisson's 2024 fundraiser.