Memphis runner Jason Heinrich is preparing to take on one of his biggest endurance challenges yet: more than 214 miles through California’s Eastern Sierra, all to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

On October 2, 2026, Heinrich, 39, will compete in the Mammoth 200, a grueling ultramarathon featuring more than 30,000 feet of elevation gain, high-altitude mountain passes, rugged alpine terrain, and two summits of Mammoth Mountain at 11,053 feet. Runners have up to 108 hours to complete the course.

For Heinrich, the race is about far more than endurance.

Born in Little Rock and raised in Memphis, Heinrich grew up playing baseball, football, basketball, and rugby before

stepping away from athletics for several years. His return to endurance sports began after his daughter spent a year receiving treatment and follow-up care at St. Jude.

Wanting to give back to the hospital that had done so much for his family, Heinrich signed up for St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend despite not considering himself a runner at the time.

One race led to another. Eventually, Heinrich progressed to ultramarathons, completing 50- and 100-mile races in Arizona and Kentucky and taking on the Cocodona 250, one of the country’s most challenging endurance events.

Now, the Mammoth 200 represents another opportunity to push his limits while supporting a cause deeply connected to his family.

 

RUNNING FOR THOSE THAT CAN’T

Heinrich is calling the effort “Running for Those That Can’t,” with funds raised beyond the direct expenses associated with the Mammoth 200 effort being donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

He won’t be tackling the challenge alone. Heinrich works with Next Day Access Memphis, an accessibility company dedicated to helping people with disabilities and providing services for veterans. The company is partnering with American Access, a West Tennessee manufacturer of high-quality aluminum modular wheelchair ramps, to support Heinrich’s “Running for Those That Can’t” campaign.

The partnership is especially fitting for a challenge centered on mobility and helping others overcome physical barriers. American Access designs and manufactures its ramps in Tennessee, while Next Day Access provides accessibility solutions and installation services to help people enter and exit their homes and businesses with greater ease.

Team members from both companies will travel with Heinrich to California, serving as pacers and providing support throughout the 214-mile race.

Pacers Taylor Murphy, Sales Operations Manager at American Access; Terence Halonie, Training and Technical Assistance Manager at American Access; and Silas C. Reed, Vice President of Next Day Access, will join Heinrich during different portions of the course. A support crew will also help manage nutrition, equipment, logistics, and the physical and mental demands of potentially spending more than four days on the course.

For Heinrich, those 214 miles are ultimately about the children and families facing challenges much greater than any finish line.

His approach to Mammoth is simple: Don’t think about all 214 miles at once. Take it one step at a time.

One step for his daughter. One step for the children at St. Jude. And one step for the families navigating some of the hardest miles of their lives.

To support Heinrich’s “Running for Those That Can’t” campaign, readers can donate, share his story, and follow his journey as he prepares for the Mammoth 200 on October 2.

To donate to the “Running for Those That Can’t” campaign, visit: Gofundme.com/f/one-step-at-a-time-for-st-jude

 

Photo by Tindall Stephens