Halifax man set to finish cross-country run, raises over $182,000 to combat heart disease
A Halifax man is completing his cross-country trip in Victoria, B.C., on Sunday, with thousands of dollars raised for those living with heart disease.
Running 75 kilometres every day, 26-year-old Ryan Keeping of Halifax is reaching the finish line just as he expected, bringing his 99-day journey to a close.
As of 10 a.m. on Sunday, Keeping has raised over $182,000 through GoFundMe – which greatly succeeds his original goal of $100,000.
In a post to Instagram on Sunday, the runner says he has 50 kilometres left of the 7,350 kilometre trip.
According to the GoFundMe, 80 per cent of the funds raised are going to the Heart & Stroke Foundation to be used for improving diagnosis, care, and support for patients with heart disease, while the remaining 20 per cent are used for expenses incurred throughout the coast-to-coast run.
One of the biggest inspirations for the trip was a man Keeping calls the “greatest Canadian of all time,” – Terry Fox.
Ryan Keeping is seen running as part of his cross-country trip. (Facebook/Ryan Keeping)Just like Fox, Keeping has his own personal reasons for doing the marathon as much of his family has been affected by heart issues, and he hopes the donation will help other families like his.
Keeping began his journey on April 1 in St. John’s, N.L., and has been documenting his coast-to-coast journey through Instagram videos to his audience of over 100,000, inspiring his viewers to “Flip The Switch.”
After only 12 days, Keeping reached the ferry to Cape Breton where he spoke with CTV’s own Ryan MacDonald.
Dozens of runners join Ryan Keeping in part of his run through Halifax, N.S. (Facebook/Ryan Keeping)"I'm getting messages from people saying, 'Man, my grandfather died of a stroke or a heart attack. You're inspiring me,’” Keeping told CTV’s Ryan MacDonald on April 12.
“And like, 'He's with you when you're doing this.' It's just really cool to see the community come behind it."
Now 99 days after setting off on his journey from the other side of the country in St. John’s, Keeping is set to finish his journey on Dallas Road in Victoria on Sunday evening.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi draws a crowd for arrival at Toronto's BMO Field
Argentine star Lionel Messi was on the bench to start Inter Miami CF's game in Toronto on Saturday.
Northwestern Ont. woman charged with arson with disregard for human life
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Looking for cheap flights for the holidays? Here are some tips to remember
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.