Justice walkers begin 4,600 km trek

By the time they reach the end of their journey, the five young men in The Freedom Walk Journey for Justice will have worn out 10 pairs of New Balance walking shoes — each.

The men are walking 4,600 kilometres from Vancouver to Toronto to highlight the impact of victimization and to raise money for victims’ services.

Their walk began Sunday in Vancouver’s Stanley Park on the eve of the federal government’s National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.

The five walkers want to raise awareness of victims’ services along their route, particularly at the more than 50 stops at schools and community events. But they also hope to raise $500,000 for improved services.

The five dedicated walkers include Merritt, B.C., RCMP Const. Mark Macdonnell, Calgary police officers Travis Juska and Dan Rossi, Rossi’s brother Andrew of Toronto, and Rob Skelly of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Rossi brothers previously walked from Halifax to Toronto for another cause.

When asked to explain his rationale, Andrew Rossi joked: “It’s a good holiday — No!”

Joking is probably the best way to start a trip where the walkers will average 60 kilometres a day over a 12-hour period and live out of a 20-foot trailer for two months.

But Rossi, who owns a construction company, does have a serious purpose.

“It’s to bring awareness to the forefront that victims are not alone,” said the 29-yearold. “There should be more services for them.

“Simply by an act of walking, that’s going to bring awareness to those individuals that have been victimized,” he said. “I’m happy to do that.”