Winnipeg man running across Canada in support of cancer research
A man from Winnipeg is running across Canada in an effort to raise money for cancer research.
With just a tent, sleeping bag, and the crisp Newfoundland air in his lungs, Jackson Charron-Okerlund, began fulfilling his long-time goal on March 6.
“I am going on foot from the East Coast of Canada, started in St. John’s, Newfoundland, at the Terry Fox monument -- mile zero -- and I’m making my way across the country to B.C.,” he said.
Charron-Okerlund says he has always admired Terry Fox and his legacy.
“His story gave me the strength and the hope to build myself up to this point and do something like this, so now I just wanted to honor him in a way where I could just show him what he made Canadians believe they could do.”
Over the last four years, he has been training his body to trek long distances.
“I put in about between 20 to 40 kilometers a day on my legs, and then I would hit the weights in the gym -- so squats, calf raises, and then also building up my upper body -- because I’d know when I’m out here I’d be dwindling away,” he said.
Throughout the time he trained, Charron-Okerlund worked in a long-term care home.
He says it was through his job that he realized he wanted to make a greater impact.
“When I worked in the care home, I only got to do and give back to about 50 people and I guess taking on this cause I could help out, try and make a difference in a bigger scale.”
Once his training was complete, Charron-Okerlund packed his things and made his way to Newfoundland.
From there, he created an online fundraiser with a goal to raise $50,000.
Charron-Okerlund is travelling 7,000 kilometers in total -- his goal is to cover that within 120 to 140 days.
He says he has received a lot of support since beginning his journey.
“People hunting me down on the Trans-Canada Highway to give cash donations and each and every one of those people have a story to share about cancer, how they’ve been affected in their lives, so now every single step I take is for those people and those families.”
Thursday was day 18 on Charron-Okerlund’s journey.
He hopes to make it to Port aux Basques, N.L., by Friday night.
Updates on his journey can be found on TikTok.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
'Wild, wild west.' Families say organs of deceased Alabama inmates have been removed without their consent
The state Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham face disturbing allegations from the families of five inmates whose organs were removed and reportedly kept without consent, according to a series of lawsuits.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed from Trump hush money trial as prosecutors seek to hold former president in contempt
A juror in Donald Trump's hush money trial was dismissed Thursday after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial, and the status of a second New Yorker picked for the panel was in limbo amid concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate.