2022 Bellevue East graduate Brandon Schutt will be running across Nebraska at the end of the month to help raise money for four different charities.
Schutt’s charity run kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday, May 31st. He will be starting at the Colorado/Nebraska border in Big Springs. His plan is to run 40 miles per day.
If the name Brandon Schutt rings a bell, it might be because he’s been in the news before. Schutt received praise two years ago for helping a fellow cross country runner cross the finish line after the runner collapsed with 75 meters to go. The Bellevue City Council also recognized Schutt for his selfless actions.
Schutt talked about how the run across the state became a reality, “This started as a crazy idea in December. I thought that this could be something that I would do when I graduated college. But as time progressed and I did more research, I came to the realization that I could do this Summer of 2023. My motivations are to push my limits and help people.”
Schutt said that many people will be helping him with his adventure, including his dad and some friends. “My dad will be driving an RV that will help us across the state. I also have a lot of friends helping out. Every ten miles, two of my friends will be pacing me. Once they finish the ten miles, another two friends will take their place.”
Schutt’s friends that will be helping pace him include George Grinnell, Vince Mendick, Jacob Mendick, Nate O’Brien, Andrew Kasperek, Josh Bugay, Jeremy Matuszewski, and Brody Wood. “My friends and family think I’m crazy for this, but in a good way. They have no doubts in my abilities as a person and as an athlete to complete this project,” said Schutt.
If all goes according to plan, Schutt will arrive at American Heroes Park in Bellevue sometime on June 10th.
The charities that Schutt will be donating to are Children’s Hospital, Make-a-Wish Nebraska, The Stephen Center, and Community Alliance. Schutt has set of goal of receiving $50,000 for these charities, to be split equally among them. If you would like to donate or check his progress, the GoFundMe page is here: https://gofund.me/8cb8af69.
Schutt attended Bellevue Public Schools from Kindergarten through high school. He is currently a student at UNO majoring in Kinesiology, on track to graduate in 2026. After graduation he plans to become a physical therapist.
