Ad Astra Academies students welcomed a remarkable visitor today as KWCH meteorologist Jake Dunne shared the story behind one of the most demanding endurance challenges on the planet: The Great World Race—seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days.
Dunne spoke candidly with students about the dream that once felt out of reach, the life-altering moment that pushed him to act, and the perseverance it took to finish a challenge that only a few hundred people in the world have ever completed. Dunne is the only Kansan to do so.
By partnering with ICT S.O.S. as his race sponsor, Dunne shared they were able to launch a campaign that raised awareness and funds for the local nonprofit, ultimately raising more than $110,000 for the organization and putting the Kansas-based charity on an international stage.
Each race location brought extreme conditions for participants. In Antarctica, runners started at 12:30 a.m. on uneven terrain in 9°F temperatures with wind gusts up to 40 mph and wind chills plunging as low as –30°F. Several runners were unable to finish. Just days later, Dunne ran in Perth, Australia, where temperatures reached 95°F—more than a 120-degree swing from the Antarctic cold.
By the numbers, the Great World Race was staggering: 197 miles run, more than 36,000 miles traveled by plane, 18 time zones crossed, just 27 total hours of sleep, and nearly 36,000 calories burned in just one week.
For Ad Astra students, Dunne’s visit was about far more than running. His story highlighted resilience, goal-setting, service to others, and the courage to keep going even when circumstances are difficult. Students heard a powerful reminder that setbacks do not have to be the end of a story and that meaningful impact often comes from pushing through discomfort with purpose.
Ad Astra Academies is grateful to Jake Dunne for sharing his time, his story, and his example. His message reinforced what we strive to instill in our students every day: dreams are worth pursuing, challenges can be transformed into opportunities, and one person’s determination can make a global difference.
