In has been 88 days since Grand Rapids resident and avid runner Chris Nicholas started his 16 state transcontinental run across the United States.  His journey began at the White House in Washington D.C. and will finish at Santa Monica Blvd. and Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, CA this evening at 6pm Pacific Standard Time.

Events include a full police escort with intersections closed as he passes through each intersection down Santa Monica Blvd.  A live band will be in the park to play for the crowd that will be gathered and beginning at 5:30pm a live stream globally on Mlive.com’s front page will take place and at www.runandfinish.com for anyone to view free of charge.  A camera will be fixed on Chris as he runs down the last two miles in full police escort and another camera fixed on the finish line.

Nicholas, who is raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals such as the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital surpassed his $5,000 goal a few days ago and raised the bar for his more than 31,000 Facebook and Twitter followers to help him raise $3,000 more thousand dollars for a grand total of $8,000. At the time of this release he is less than $2,000 away.

“The major reason I chose the Children’s Miracle Network was that people along the way could donate and the dollars would go to their closest Children’s Hospital.  With 170 hospitals through North America it allowed others to be involved in my journey and allows their donations to stay locally in their neighborhood,” Nicholas commented on his last day of running today.

Nicholas is one of 241 runners who have ever completed the transcontinental run across the United States and only one of 40 that have achieved this goal solo.

“I push a running stroller with my gear that I need inside, extra running shoes, which over 11 weeks have gone through 6 pairs of shoes and should realistically be on 7 or 8, but I love how they feel after they are broke in,” Nicholas added.

Chris has run more than 2,800 miles average 25-40 miles per day with his longest day of 73 miles in Arizona.  He has run through the Mojave at night, in 112 degree temperature days and has been joined by other runners who have met him along the way.

“It was exciting to meet the Pasadena Pacers Running Club last night and run 7 miles with them.  Other runners have joined me when they found out I was going through their city or town and I have made many friends along my journey that I will never forget,” Nicholas commented.

Tonight (Wednesday), Nicholas will reach Santa Monica Blvd. and Ocean Avenue escorted by the Santa Monica Police Department and entering the finishing chute to the tunes of a local band, Another Dying Breed.  The band will begin at 8:30pm Eastern Time with Chris crossing the finish line at 9pm tonight.