Father embarking on mental health, drug crisis walk from Niagara Falls to Ottawa
Greg Mcpherson to trek 600 km over 14 days in memory of son Aric
A photo taken by Aric Mcpherson in May 2018 that shows the young man in the heart of Niagara Falls’ tourism district gave his father hope his son was on the path to overcoming his mental health issues and drug dependency.
Greg Mcpherson said his son’s selfie on Niagara Parkway, with the American Falls in the background, was posted to Aric’s Facebook page.
In the post, his son said: “A couple weeks back, I woke up wearing an oxygen mask, and later in two ditches and the middle of a road. Today, I woke up happy, and for the first time in years with a plan for the future. Happy weekend all.” Greg said it was a “sign of hope.” “Sadly, less than a year later (on Jan. 6, 2019), we lost Aric.”
Two years later, a close friend of Aric’s and a family friend’s daughter, Madeleine Soroczan-wright, who “never got over losing Aric,” died by suicide.
The two tragedies hit the Mcpherson family — Greg, his wife Ingrid and children Aaron, Chelsea and Kaelan — hard.
In 2022, On the Road 4 Mental Health was founded by Greg and Aaron, in memory of Aric and Madeleine and all people lost to mental health and drug crisis.
During the first two years the event was held in Ottawa, but this year Greg will set out from Niagara Falls and walk 600 km over 14 days.
Although he still resides in Ottawa, he has deep family roots in Niagara. His father was born and raised in the region and Greg spent a lot of time in the area with his family.
On May 18, for a 15-minute period the falls will be illuminated green for mental health and purple for overdose awareness starting at 9 p.m.
On May 19, six years to the day Aric took his selfie by the falls, Greg will begin his walk, alongside Aaron and Kaelan, and anyone else who wishes to join them for the first few kilometres. The starting line will be on Niagara Parkway, between Clifton Hill and the Rainbow Bridge, the spot where Aric took his photo.
The event is supported by the Niagara branch of Canadian Mental Health Association.
On May 20, an informal 30-minute gathering will be held at Brant Street Pier in Burlington starting at 8:30 p.m. The pier will be lit green and purple in recognition of On the Road 4 Mental Health.
More events are being planned and will be listed on otr4mentalhealth.com as they’re confirmed.
The walk will end June 1 with speakers from mental health and addictions organizations at Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa.
Greg said in its first year the event raised $11,000 for Youth Services Bureau in Ottawa, an organization that helps with youth housing, employment, and mental health and addiction supports.
He said while the On the Road 4 Mental Health concept unfolded in 2022, the actual name was made official in 2023 when Greg walked 100 km in 24 hours across every ward in Ottawa.
He said the mental health and addictions crisis goes beyond the nation’s capital, adding the “stigma” is still “so strong.”
“This is not a choice — people don’t choose to become addicted, it’s something that chooses them,” he said.
“It’s either a traumatic event or a bad decision or something, but it’s out there, so the awareness this year is because I want the communities to come together and organizations to come together.
“The Ottawa portion itself will continue to raise money for Youth Services Bureau.”