MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — Atlanta-based radio host and producer Paul Leslie announced plans in the spring of 2011 to lace up his running shoes and hit the Alabama Gulf Coast for a 52-mile charity run benefiting the Alabama Coastal Foundation.
Leslie’s “Run for the Gulf” was designed as a multi-day journey stretching from Heron Bay in southern Mobile County to the Florida state line, covering between nine and 15 miles each day from April 5 through April 9. All donations raised through the event were directed to the Alabama Coastal Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting coastal Alabama’s natural resources.
A Tribute to Forrest Gump
The run paid tribute to the 25th publication anniversary of the novel Forrest Gump by Alabama author Winston Groom. The 1986 novel — which inspired the beloved 1994 film starring Tom Hanks — features a memorable sequence in which Gump runs across the United States several times, gathering followers along the way. Leslie hoped to channel that same spirit, inviting the public to join him on the route in a show of solidarity for the Gulf Coast.
The Route
Leslie’s planned daily schedule took him through some of the most scenic stretches of the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast:
- April 5: Heron Bay to The Pelican Pub on Dauphin Island — 9.7 miles
- April 6: The Pelican Pub to The Beach Hut Cafe in Gulf Shores — 15.7 miles, including 4.5 miles aboard the Mobile Bay ferry
- April 7: Rest day
- April 8: The Beach Hut Cafe to Lulu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores — 13.5 miles
- April 9: Lulu’s to the Flora-Bama in Perdido Key, Florida — 13.4 miles
Raising Awareness for the Coast
The event came roughly a year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill devastated the Gulf Coast region, and the run served as both a fundraiser and a visible reminder of the ongoing need to support coastal restoration and conservation efforts across South Alabama. Leslie documented his progress through social media updates along the route, and the Alabama Coastal Foundation tracked the run on its website.