CLAY BANKS, Wis. — The day’s journey starts a nondescript four-way intersection in rural Door County.

It’s day 10 of Lee Thonquist’s journey around Lake Michigan.

On foot.

About 31 miles per day.

He’s running more than 1,100 miles this spring as way to honor his late grandmother and raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s research and education.

“It’s lot more emotional than I was expecting. I’ve done ultras before so I know the day brings a lot of highs and lows,” Thornquist said. “But to do that day after day after day is definitely something new to me.”

Running Lake Michigan is inspired by Harriet O’Daffer, his grandmother who battled the disease for more than a decade before passing away late last summer. So far, it’s raised more than $30,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“My grandma was a big part of our family and seeing how the disease impacted her, my grandpa, her kids and everyone who knew her was really powerful — and the way they came together to support her,” he said shortly before setting off on his daily run.

A rented RV is Thornquist’s support vehicle, recovery point and hotel for much of the trip, which is expected to wrap up in mid-April when he’ll return home to Chicago.

He’s being helped out by people like Riley J. Ewing, his driver and support person for the first leg of the journey.

“I don’t view myself as a terribly lazy person, but you can’t help but feel at least a little bit lazy when you see him pushing through throbbing ankles and knees and moving 30 miles a day,” Ewing said moments after Lee had departed the intersection, headed north through barren farm fields.

A photo of Lee and Harriet hangs from the rearview mirror.

“It’s not just that he’s running running this for some vanity thing, he’s doing it with purpose, which makes it a little easier on the long days,” Ewing says.

Thornquist has faced challenges in the first 10 days, including 30 MPH headwinds on day five.

He pushed through.

“Everyday that we finish is a highlight,” Thornquist said. “Each day is a win, we celebrate a little bit and then focus on the next day.”

You can follow Thornquist’s run here.