Man running from Nyack to Massachusetts to raise awareness for Black Lives Matter movement

A Rockland County man trekked from the Hudson Valley to Massachusetts to raise awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for equality.

News 12 Staff

Jul 5, 2020, 3:34 PM

Updated 1,556 days ago

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A Rockland County man trekked from the Hudson Valley to Massachusetts to raise awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for equality.
Quamel Broadhurst, 24, took on the mission last week to run from Nyack to Springfield. The fitness trainer says he trained for a while to make sure he could complete the journey.
Broadhurst's trek was inspired by Ahmaud Arbery, who was chased down and fatally shot while jogging back in February in Georgia.
"When I heard the story of Ahmaud Arbery, I was just like 'you know what? Maybe this is something I shouldn't do,'" Broadhurst recalls.
With fear, Broadhurst decided to take on the longest trek of his life.
"Four days and four nights, a hundred and twenty-one miles, and I pretty much did over a marathon every single day," Broadhusts says.
From home, Broadhurst prevailed and documented moments along the way as he ran through moments of darkness, rain and over train tracks, even experiencing moments of fatigue.
"The first night I actually slept in someone's front lawn," Broadhurst says.
And while his journey was not an easy one, the preparation paid off.
"Before, I couldn't run two miles. I was just tired. So we ran from Nyack to Nanuet, then to Spring Valley, then to Suffern, then to Port Authority," Broadhurst says.
He also reflects on stories of resilience that he says helped him finish his race.
"This is not something that just comes from within. This comes from my ancestors, this comes from my community, this comes from my family, my peers," Broadhurst says.
Broadhurst's shared his experience on social media with the hope to encourage others to stand up against inequality. His videos generated more than 2,000 views.