Tyson Black — Inner Circle

Tyson Black

175 miles.
For Callie.

He started by walking. A year later Tyson ran and walked more than 175 miles across Tennessee in six days for Callie, a friend's daughter born with NGLY1 Deficiency, an ultra-rare genetic disorder with no cure. The next year he turned it into a relay anyone can join. More than $50,000 raised so far.

Home: Cleveland, TN
Cause: NGLY1 research
Built: Run Across Tennessee Relay
Raised: $50K+

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Year one goal

$15,000

Year one raised

$35,000+

To Grace Science, year one

$25,000+

Total, two years

$50,000+

01 — The Origin

He started by walking.

SubjectTyson BlackHomeCleveland, TNCauseNGLY1 Deficiency research, through Grace Science FoundationBuiltCallie Strong: Run Across TN · Run Across Tennessee RelayFirst 50The Pistol, 2025StatusStill walking. Mostly running.

Tyson's way in was loss and grief. He talked through it on Dirt and Vert, the podcast FRXN co-founder David Compton co-hosts: the turning point, the walking, then the running, then a coach and an ultra on the calendar (Dirt and Vert).

By his own account, he was 345 pounds when he started walking every day. Walking became running. Running became an ultra signup. He needed a reason bigger than himself to keep going, so he put a photo of Callie on his phone's lock screen (Grace Science Foundation).

In early 2025 he finished his first ultras, including his first 50-miler at The Pistol in Alcoa (UltraRunning).

“It won't be my last time coming out to this event.”— Tyson Black, to UltraRunning, after The Pistol

02 — Callie

The reason on the lock screen.

Callie is the daughter of a friend. She was born with NGLY1 Deficiency, an ultra-rare genetic disorder with no cure. Fewer than 150 children worldwide are known to have it, so research money is hard to come by (Callie Strong).

Grace Science Foundation funds NGLY1 research. That's where most of the money goes. The rest goes to Callie's care and physical therapy.

Tyson didn't set out to be a fundraiser. He set out to keep moving. Callie gave the moving a direction.

03 — The RAT

Six days. North to south.

Day one started at 3:30 a.m. on June 9. Over the next six days Tyson and his team walked and ran more than 175 miles across Tennessee, from the Virginia line south. They called it the RAT: Run Across TN (Grace Science Foundation).

The week brought lightning, thunderstorms, heat exhaustion, and blisters. Also doughnuts, Taco Bell, a lot of jokes, and a lot of hugs. Drivers honked. Strangers got out and walked with them.

“This week was much bigger than ourselves.”— Tyson Black, for Grace Science Foundation

The goal was $15,000. They raised just over $35,000, with more than $25,000 going straight to Grace Science Foundation's NGLY1 research.

Tyson BlackOrganizer · runner
Clay SneedRunner · co-planner
Johnny MuresanRunner
Jeff StinnettCrew chief
Ryan CourtoyVideographer

04 — The Relay

Year two. Everybody runs.

The second year, Tyson opened it up. The Run Across Tennessee Relay is about 170 miles for teams of three to eight, from the Tennessee–Virginia line just north of Harrogate, south through Knoxville, to the Tennessee–Georgia line just south of Cleveland. It's a fundraiser, not a race. All proceeds go to research and treatment for Callie (event listing).

Every team finishes the same way: walking across the state line together, with Callie.