I’m running 500 km across Vancouver Island — a marathon a day for 12 days — to raise $50,000 for arthritis research. But first, I need your help to cover the $7500 in costs to make this mission possible.
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Hey, I’m Ty—aka The Ankylosing Guy, your friendly neighborhood stiff-joke-telling endurance doofus with a a set of rebellious hips and spine (thanks to ankylosing spondylitis).
This October, I’ll be running from the top to the bottom of Vancouver Island — averaging 42 km a day — to raise awareness, build momentum, and test the systems for something even bigger:
➡️ In 2026, I’m running 7,500 km from the Arctic Ocean to Baja Mexico to raise $1 million for arthritis research.
This Vancouver Island run is phase one — the launch pad.
This first run proves it’s possible. But I can’t do it without your help.
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* A PERSONAL NOTE *
I’ll be honest — I don’t love asking for money. But the reality is, while I’ve been training with a body that tries to betray me daily, I’ve had to sell my business and cut back to part-time work just to make this all possible. Every spare dollar has gone into this project.
This fundraiser isn’t a handout — it’s a last resort to cover the basic costs so I can focus on running this 500 km journey, raising awareness, and building momentum toward the $1 million fundraiser Arctic-to-Baja campaign.
If you’re in a position to help, I’m beyond grateful. And if not, cheering from the sidelines, sharing the story, or just sending a good meme — it all helps more than you know.
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WHY I'M DOING IT
• To change the conversation around what life with an autoimmune arthritic disease can look like — not just surviving, but pushing boundaries.
• To inspire others living with chronic conditions not to give up on themselves, even when it feels impossible.
• To raise awareness about how physically, mentally, and emotionally brutal these diseases can be — and to be the voice I wish I had when I was younger.
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WHAT "FUEL THE RUN" MEANS
When you click the Fuel the Run button on my website or donate here, you’re helping me make this first mission happen.
YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS:
• Food (6,000 calories/day for me) + meals for 2 support crew
• ️Accommodation – part budget motel, part Airbnb, maybe a few “why is this mattress so crunchy?” moments
• Ferry & fuel costs – getting a support vehicle, crew, and gear up and down the Island
• Media & gear – so I can share every weird, painful, inspiring moment with you
• Basic Living Expenses - We’ve taken a big leap to make this journey happen, including stepping away from regular work. Your donations help cover the direct costs of the campaign and also support us in basic living expenses while we run for this cause.
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RUN SNAPSHOT
• Dates: October 12–24, 2025
• Route: Port Hardy to South Point, near Victoria (~500 km)
• Format: ~1 marathon per day
• Crew: 2 humans, 1 van, many granola bars
• Coverage: Daily updates, video storytelling, sponsor shoutouts
️ Where This Leads
This Vancouver Island run is the proving ground — a 12-day, 500 km demonstration of grit, storytelling, and purpose. It’s our chance to build momentum, capture attention, and show potential sponsors what we’re capable of.
After this, we’ll launch the next phase: a $1 million fundraising campaign during a 7,500 km run from the Arctic Ocean to Baja Mexico. With the support of the sponsors and community we hope to rally through this run, that $1M goal becomes possible.
This current campaign gets us to the start line. It makes everything else real.
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JOIN THE MOVEMENT
If you believe in showing the world what’s possible with chronic illness…
If you want to see a guy with a stiff spine outrun doubt…
If you just think running across an island sounds crazy in the best way…
Please donate and help me Fuel the Run.
Thank you for helping me get to the start line.
– Ty
FOR MORE INFORMATION HEAD TO THE WEBSITE
Social Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theankylosingguy/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.ankylosing.guy
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theankylosingguy
Organizer
Tyler Clayton
Organizer