Cape Breton hiker finds inspirational message on mountain
Tenerife Mountain sits on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island and is a popular destination for a hike.
On Sunday, Chad Magee and a few friends spent the day making the challenging climb to the summit when a message written on a tree caught their eye.
"I have to admit, by that time when I saw the message on the tree, I've seen it before, but this day it actually dug in,” Magee said.
“It actually inspired me to put in that little extra bit of effort to get to the top there."
In August 2021, 16-year-old Josh Cochrane was hiking with his father when he wrote the message, “Keep going! It’s 100% worth it.”
The Yarmouth teen knows a lot what it means to keep going through adversity.
"When I was 7, I had Kawasaki Disease. It damaged my heart,” Cochrane explained.
“I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which means I could dislocate joints easily. (I’ve had) a lot of health complications throughout my life."
Magee shared a post on social media about the inspirational message he found on the mountain and was contacted by Cochrane’s mother, who told him all about her son and his story.
"His struggles and everything he's going through,” Magee said.
“Also his fundraising that he does. One of which is with PTSD. Being a first responder myself, that definitely struck a chord with me."
As a young man living with autism, who used to be non-verbal, Cochrane has come a long way and he is happy his message has inspired others.
"I hoped that maybe anybody else hiking up to the peak would see it and get a smile out of it or something, but I never expected the response. I'm happy,” Cochrane said.
Thanks to the message, Magee says he’s made a connection and, perhaps, a friendship. He adds he’d be happy to take Cochrane and his family hiking should they return to Cape Breton.
"If he ever comes back this way, I know a lot of spots around here that he might not be aware of,” Magee said. “I can definitely get them out."
In the meantime, Cochrane is looking forward to receiving the Governor General's Sovereign Medal For Volunteers - once COVID restrictions allow.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.