A Filipina tuberculosis survivor is attempting to become the first Pinay to run across the United States to provide financial support for a program assisting patients in the Philippines with TB and heart ailments.

Filipina marathoner Joy Rojas will attempt to complete the cross-country run across the US in a project called “Takbong Pangarap/Trans-USA Run 2009”.

Rojas reached Nevada Saturday morning. Rojas’s 13-day run through the scorching desert sun of Nevada was quite an experience for the 44-year-old.

“Constantly, you had to douse yourself with water also. Sometimes when we have to pass through the sand dunes of the Mojave, I said ‘Wait. I didn’t sign up for this. I signed up for road running.’ Wala e, you have to go where you have to go. You can’t run on the I-15 (interstate) but there is no law that says you cannot run on the sand next to the I-15,” Rojas said.

Her “Takbong Pangarap” supporters said her mission to cross the US is creating awareness about the Philippines' health care system. The anti-TB program of the Inner Wheel Club of Quezon City and the Philippine Heart Center are Rojas's beneficiaries.

Diana Zunigam, Country Development Manager of Western Union, said Rojas serves as a bridge between Filipinos abroad and the Philippines.

“You can do whatever you want and you can dream big and achieve it at the same time,” Zunigam said.

Sylvia Eliat, Western Union’s marketing director said Rojas is a great advocate of the Filipino spirit.

"We were able to find finally someone that definitely leaves the values not only on the community," Eliat said.

Rojas’ next pit stop after Las Vegas will be Mesquite, Nevada. After that, she hits the road for the Canyonland of Utah. Report from Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau, Nevada