Hi, my name is TJ Dailey, long-time friend and champion of one Cameron Balser. I've been lucky enough to be beside Cam's family and friends since the early days of his extreme ultra endurance journey. It first began with him reframing a successful high school and collegiate running career from speed to distance, which removed expectations and allowed him to spend more time with himself, helping him deal with severe mental health struggles. It continued with multiple wins and podium finishes at traditional ultra distances, culminating in a feat never before achieved: a self-supported, nearly 12,000-mile, continuous run around the United States, which ran from October 2023 to August 2024.

In his own words, what he experienced during those 9 months gave him tremendous hope. Meeting people face to face, understanding that we're all humanitarians and that we all want the best for our communities, is a light he wants to share with the world.

So, after recovering mentally and physically from his journey, he set his eyes on another potential opportunity to explore the possible and give us all hope with the "Let There Be Light" coast-to-coast record attempt to benefit the Grant County YMCA, and give underprivileged youth the opportunity to explore sport and their limits, creating future Cam's !! This record attempt is set to kick off sometime in Fall, when weather conditions are favorable.

As you can imagine, this is a huge undertaking; it's on the razor's edge of what's possible, absolutely everything matters, and Cam does not take that lightly. He's put in thousands of miles of training over the past few months, and he's worked with his team to relentlessly explore his route, looking for potential roadblocks. In his own words, this is a community effort; we're all part of this attempt. Every person who has supported him up to this point, and every person who will support him going forward, is attempting this world record, not just Cam.

With that, we humbly ask that you join us in supporting him in whatever way you can. Cam runs full-time, sometimes 10-12 hours a day, because these experiences are necessary to give him the best chance of running coast to coast in less than 40 days. If you know anything about this sport, you know that full-time professional running is normally done for intense love of the craft, not monetary gain. We want to be fully transparent about the cost of undertaking this, so you know what your generosity is supporting. We've spent a lot of time arriving at these numbers, as fiscal responsibility is one of the keys to ensuring the long-term success of the charity efforts. This GoFundMe will get him to the start line, with any extra proceeds going to the charity. Once he gets to the start line, the charity fundraising will begin.

Lastly, if you or a friend or family member can provide any information or have connections for any of the following items/categories, please message us.

Let There Be Light Expenses:

Core Operations and Safety (Top Priority)

RV Operations — $12,000

Includes:

• Fuel for continuous leapfrogging and route support

• Routine maintenance, oil changes, tires, fluids

• Campground fees and overnight parking

• Wear and tear from constant use

• Climate control for recovery and sleep

Why it matters: This is the mobile home, recovery center, and command hub. Running 75 miles a day requires extreme efficiency. This is the standard for this type of attempt.

Support Van Operations — $6,000

Used for leapfrogging, safety coverage, resupply, and emergencies.

Includes:

• Fuel and maintenance

• Quick-response vehicle during high-risk stretches

• Backup transport if the RV is unavailable

Why it matters: Redundancy equals safety. As you can imagine, if the RV breaks down or supplies are needed, Cam would be left without support for a considerable time, which could kill the run.

Crew Food and Water (4 people) — $7,000

Sustaining the team that sustains the runner.

Includes:

• Daily meals for 3-4 people

• Clean water supply and storage

• Electrolytes and hydration support

• Cooking supplies and food storage

Why it matters: In this environment crew is just as important as the runner. Their alertness, efficiency, and effectiveness will save dozens of hours during this 40-day journey.

Athlete Fuel — $2,000

This is extremely important for Cam; he has reached a point in his nutrition where it causes little to no inflammation, and it is essential when running 15 hours a day. This is performance fuel.

Includes:

• High-calorie whole foods

• Potatoes, rice, fruits, fats, salts

• Simple, digestible run fuel

Athlete Recovery and Body Maintenance — $1,200

This is in lieu of having a full-time PT on-site with him, saving money wherever possible

Includes:

• Massage tools, mobility aids

• Topical recovery support

• Minimal, targeted supplementation

• Ice, heat, compression

Safety and Emergency Systems — $2,000

Includes:

• Emergency medical supplies

• Roadside safety equipment

• High-visibility gear

• Weather contingency gear

Media — $12,000

This is the conduit for sharing our message with everyone and having something to look back on when the run is complete, something all of us can share with friends and family (especially you !!) for the rest of our lives!

It will be a multi-hour-per-day undertaking, but it is essential in today's world to get the exposure needed to ensure our message resonates.

Additional Funds and Contingency — $10,000

Based on our experience in the sport and research, we want to ensure we're redundant and not blindsided by any major issues.

Includes:

• Mechanical failures

• Medical needs

• Unexpected repairs or replacements

We appreciate each and every one of you who has taken the time to read this (as it was written by an actual human and not AI). We thank you deeply, and we look forward to experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime event with you.

Please note that if circumstances prevent the run from taking place, all donations will be refunded.