FAIRBANKS, Alaska >> A Seattle man who plans to run from northern Alaska to the southern tip of South America has cleared 500 miles so far.

Steve Petrucci set off on foot on May 5 from Deadhorse, Alaska, and jogged near Fairbanks on Friday.

The Daily News-Miner says his destination is Ushuaia, Argentina.

Petrucci is a former Microsoft software design engineer. He founded the Roadsend Run charity, and is raising money for Doctors Without Borders.

He says he has dealt with a sore Achilles tendon, blisters and summer heat.

He has averaged about 30 miles a day, and thinks the entire 14,000-mile journey will take over a year to complete.

A Lynnwood, Washington, man who answered his Craigslist ad is driving the support van.