His name is Brayden Erickson, and by all impressions he is a typical 18-year-old boy. What he’s doing right now, however, is out of the ordinary.
On Saturday, March 23, the Salmon Arm youth started out on what he expects will be a seven-month walk to Sydney, Nova Scotia.
He will be alone and unassisted, except for his tent and technology.
“I’ve got an iphone 5 to make sure I can use the GPS and post videos on YouTube, make Facebook updates and Tweets. Stuff like that.”
Erickson is doing this for cancer research, but he’s also doing it for himself.
“What could I do that’s really awesome and how can I make it benefit other people?” he wondered.
There was someone special in his life that sparked the idea. It’s a girl, but Erickson says she “doesn’t want me telling anyone about it, other than she has cancer.” And Erickson obviously feels helpless about it, as do many people whose loved ones are diagnosed with cancer.
The BC Cancer Society offered to help as well. Erickson says he approached them for help and they offered “to give me all the resources I’ll need, but I’m not sure what that means.”
Most people don’t get to learn from experience about best practices on how to walk across the country to raise money.
Others have done it before, of course, and their stories were part of the inspiration for Brayden Erickson’s plan.
“Terry Fox said (he wanted to raise) a dollar for every Canadian,” but Erickson has more modest goals.
“I’d be happy with $323,323,” he said, creating a relationship between his departure date of March 23 and his fundraising goals.
As for his parents, there’s some uncertainty there.
“I don’t really know where my dad stands,” he notes, but adds his father has been telling his friends because people he doesn’t know have been coming up to congratulate him on his plan.
“My mom has been very supportive about it.”
He adds his friend think he’s “insane,” but also realize he’s serious and want to put their support behind him.
Erickson will be on the road as you read this, with his special blue running shoes still intact.
As he travels eastward by foot, he would like you to give a thought to his mission, perhaps even make a donation to cancer research.
His Twitter handle is @CanadaCure and he’ll continue to mark his progress on his Facebook page and through YouTube videos.