Who is JMK?
Joseph Michael Kai-Tsu Liu Roqueni an explorer, adventure photographer, gear tester, social media influencer and a barefoot runner… and he is getting set to resume his Run2theEnd project.
How it all started.
The Run2theEnd idea was founded by Joseph Michael KaiTsu (A.K.A. JMK) Liu Roqueñi.
JMK was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada in 1981 and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico by his parents. JMK grew up within quite a large family – he is the third of eight brothers and two sisters. Having so many siblings around, he felt as though he was always fighting for attention. A blessing in disguise; this unique upbringing gave him the drive to begin the Run2theEnd journey…
In his search to stand out, JMK shifted gears away fro his engineering career. A combination of his love for the outdoors, the environment and, of course, running – he decided to dump his sneakers and look for a more sustainable barefoot shoe. He found the XeroShoes, the closest minimalist shoe to barefoot running he could find and decided to embark on one-of-a-kind barefoot running journey. Thus started the adventure of Run2theEnd…
Running for Mental Health.
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering at Concordia University, JMK embarked on his first running journey, 4,654 km from Montreal to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico hoping the world would take a stand to improve our educational methods. The world watched & listened.
Once back in Canada in 2018, JMK had a snowboarding accident, where he shattered his femur in four pieces and had a compression fracture on his thoracic spine. This was physically and mentally devastating for him. Since then, he has been focused on recovering physically and fighting the mental health aftermath. The recovery journey continues. His second leg of his Run2theEnd project is focused on bringing awareness to the struggles of mental health and sharing a voice within the silence.
Currently, home base is n Canmore, Alberta, Canada with his partner in crime Iris Azucena Lomeli Lopez. They live and train close to the mountains; a dream come true.
He will be travelling in northern parts of Canada this summer, spreading the awareness and sharing his experience with others – while running barefoot!
The Journey.
Are you interested in learning more about this incredible barefoot adventure? Check it out:
Run2theEnd Leg 1: Canada to Mexico
Run2theEnd Leg 2: Arctic Circle – Yukon
Run2theEnd Leg 3: Yukon – Glacier National Park
Media Coverage & Awards.
How can you support?
- To show the impact that an injury can have on mental health.
- To tell the story of how one man overcame a life-changing injury to undertake a groundbreaking journey across the Yukon.
- To inspire others to use sport as an outlet.
There is a Kickstarter Campaign going on right now too. Check it out, learn more, donate.
