After 21,000 miles, a woman running around the world has taken solace in Goshen.

She started her journey from the United Kingdom in 2003, after her husband died of prostate cancer. The 60-year-old woman has run through Russian winters and the Alaskan wilderness.

Last week, she made her way to Indiana, and for now, is held up in Goshen.

The reason she has stopped has a lot to do with her reason for running. She is staying at the Cancer Center at Goshen Health System, to have a biopsy done on a lump in her left breast.

Rosie Swale-Pope has encountered a lot of obstacles in her trip around the world.

"Two murderers who had escaped from jail, but they were perfectly amiable to me, and in Russia, like, when the wild man jumped from trees with the axe in the middle of moonlight - you can't run away, because you could never get away," Swale-Pope said.

But she has taken everything in stride during her run to raise awareness and money for cancer research, all in her late husband's honor.

"You can't show fear, I mean, you have to learn not to show fear. You just have to say, good morning, how are you? I love Russia," Swale-Pope said.

So how does she react to the news that she herself could have cancer?

"I have a minor lump on my left breast and that again is fantastic … I’m grateful to have this problem because it gives me an insight, and a slight anxiety, you know, you think about the result of the test. But also it gives me an excuse to talk about it," Swale-Pope said.

It sounds unbelievable, but coming from a woman who pulls a three hundred pound cart she's named "Charlie," which turns into a place to sleep at night, her optimism is a testament to her dedication for the cause.

"I just try to raise cancer awareness. I don't know if I help people at all. I hope so; I hope they enjoy talking with me," Swale-Pope said.

As for what she plans to do when the test results come back, she said, "If I do have the results tonight, and they're negative, I’ll stay tomorrow because it will be a little bruised and sore. Because I’ve got to pull Charlie, and I’ll be off to New York, but if it is a problem, then I’ll have to schedule that to be sorted, and I’ll be here a little longer."

She says she only has about 3,500 miles left in her run, to New York, and then a flight back home to finish in Wales.

She tries to run about 15 miles a day and pulls along a 300 pound cart carrying her belongings.

Rosie says all she really hopes for is that people who meet her or hear about her give a few extra dollars to cancer research organizations.

She was hoping to know the results of her biopsy by Tuesday night because she wants to get back on the road - running - as soon as possible.

But, the Goshen Health Center says it is more likely she will know by Wednesday.

You can visit her website by clicking on the link below.

Interview with Rosie Swalepope