A worthy Kause
Sydney man’s journey to raise funds for cancer patients travels through Truro
Shaun Macneil is helping with a run from the Canso Causeway to Halifax, raising funds to help with travel costs for patients going to the city for cancer treatment.
Will Brien has blisters on his feet, but he won’t stop running.
Brien is running from the Canso Causeway to The Lodge That Gives, in Halifax, raising funds to help with travel costs for Nova Scotians going to the city for cancer treatment.
“I ran 38 kilometres the first day, and that’s the furthest I’ve run in my lifetime,” said the 23-year-old during a stop in Truro on Tuesday. “I’ve run about 140 kilometres, as of today, and I’ve had a few blisters and my feet are a little sore.”
Brien, who grew up in Sydney but is currently living in Halifax to attend university, began running on April 13, and hopes to run up to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Lodge That Gives at 2 p.m. on Friday. He expects he will have covered 200-230 kilometres by that time.
He and his roommate, Shaun Macneil, organized Kommute for a Kause after being inspired by Brien’s friend, Maike Van Niekerk, who bicycled from St. Anthony, NL to St. John’s in 2014, raising money for people who need to travel for treatment. Van Niekerk named her fundraiser in honour of her mother, Katrin Kohler, who passed away from breast cancer in 2011. Katrin’s Kare Package raised $35,000.
In 2016, Van Niekerk did a run, raising another $20,000.
“Everybody knows people who have made the trip to Halifax for cancer treatment, and we felt this was a cause we could put a dent into,” said Brien. “Some of them are travelling a long way, and expenses can make things more difficult. One hundred per cent of the donations go toward gas treatment.” cards for people receiving cancer
The money raised will help anyone in Nova Scotia who has to travel more than 50 kilometres for cancer treatment, providing
$10 in gas cards for every 100 kilo- metres ering Corporate the they cost travel. sponsors of the duo’s are cov- fuel and t- shirts during the run. Macneil noted the t-shirts have helped them grab people’s attention. “On the first day, a guy saw the bright pink shirts and waved us over to see what we were doing,” he said. “We talked to him and he reached into his wallet and gave us $20.” The fundraising goal had been set at $15,000, and by the second day “That they was had pretty reached exciting, it. and makes it worthwhile,” said Brien. “At the end of every run, the last five kilometres are like a slog, and I think there’s no way I can do this tomorrow. Then I get some physio and a rest, and the next morning I can run again.” Donations to Kommute for a Kause can be made online at https:// www. facebook. com/ Kommute4akause/.