When 71 year old Rosie Swale-Pope's husband sadly passed away from prostate cancer in 2002, not only did she not give up on life, she decided to take her Irish grandmother's advice of 'start with your dreams and not your circumstances'.

Five years and 20,000 miles later she had run all around the world completely alone and unsupported - she was the first person in the world to do so - to raise awareness and money for cancer charities.  She told the world all about her amazing experiences in her bestselling book "Just a little Run Around the World."

Rosie's only companion on this journey was a trailer made for her by a group of Amish people.  It held everything she needed for her trip and was big enough to sleep in.  She named it Ice Breaker because people recognised it and, thus, her so would come to talk to her.  Encounters with fascinating people and extraordinary random acts of kindness were the highlight of her trip.  Once in Russia, she eveb woke up and found man coming at her with an axe, shouting something at her. Obviously, sh'ed been terrified but then she realised he wasn't angry, he was delighted and he invited her to a party.  She politely declined, but in the morning discovered he'd left her a parcel of food and a small bottle of vodka.  Little acts of kindness like this happened often.

It wasn't just interesting humans she came face to face with though.  In Siberia she found a wolf in her cart.  He didn't harm her and actually brought his pack along to accompany her for part of her trip.

Rosie describes these and many more amazing experiences in her book 'Just a little Run Around the World' which is described as a "celebration of the transcendent beauty of this planet."

During her amazing journey, this incredibly courageous woman had to battle extreme weather conditions and all kinds of physical challenges as she travelled between 10 and 27 miles a day.  She really hopes her story will serve as an inspiration to motivate people to live their lives to the fullest and never give up.

If you want to read more about Rosie visit her website or stay up to date with her twitter account.

[picture courtesy of Baltimoresun.com]