Man tackling Run to the Sun volcano challenge
Gruelling 65-kilometre journey at Maui’s Haleakala Volcano in Hawaii aims to help East City man to rise above mental health struggles
An East City resident is preparing to run to the summit of a volcano in Hawaii in support of his mental health and others.
Lucas Werger, 41, plans to start his journey up Maui’s Haleakala Volcano on Dec. 3.
The trek is about 65 kilometres and will take him 3,055 metres above sea level once on top.
“This will not only be a great physical challenge for me, but it will also be the beginning of a journey to rise above the immense mental health struggles that I have been afflicted with throughout my life,” Werger wrote on his website.
He’s calling the venture Run to the Sun, after a longtime ultramarathon up Haleakala that’s no longer happening.
As part of his challenge, Werger is raising money for Team Unbreakable, an organization that works to improve youth mental health through running programs.
Running has helped Werger manage his mental health. He calls it his “therapy.”
The Douro St. resident suffers from body dysmorphic disorder (BBD), which led to anxiety and depression.
“Sadly, attempted suicides for individuals suffering from BDD may be as high as 25 per cent, but fortunately for me, my strong family bond and personal willpower kept me fighting,” Werger wrote.
To keep fighting, he kept running. The runs slowly became longer and more frequent.
In the spring, Werger decided to run up Haleakala.
He arrived in Maui on Wednesday to begin his training, prepping for rough terrain and high altitudes.
The St. Peter Secondary School graduate will come across five aid stations along the way before his final leg to the summit.
He doesn’t expect to get a surge of energy when he nears the top, though, as exciting as it may be.
“With crumbling stones underfoot, and a thinning oxygen level, a sprint to the finish will be highly unlikely,” he wrote.
NOTE: To donate to Lucas Werger’s campaign, visit his website at www.runtothesun.ca