Two city councillors from the other end of the Bruce Trail are in Saugeen First Nation today to start a 1,000 km run for childhood cancer research.
Niagara Councillor Victor Pietrangelo and Councillor and former Olympic boxer Mike Strange set out today on their 30 day journey to traverse the entire Bruce Trail all the way down to Niagara.
The 1,000km Trail Run Challenge will see Pietrangelo and Strange run about 33kms per day through varied terrain, the escarpment, and unpredictable weather.
They’ll be staying in a 1980s RV at night and are supported by volunteers. Strange says in order to make it 1,000 kms they actually started a ways south of the trail head at Chippewa Hill in Saugeen First Nation. They’ll run up the road to Tobermory and then all the way down the Bruce Trail.
Listen to Mike Strange tell Claire McCormack about the first day of the run:
Strange says in a statement, “I’m looking forward to this newest challenge to help children fighting this horrible disease,” adding, I know it’s going to be just that – a challenge. We don’t typically run on trails when we train so this will be difficult for us, fighting against the elements. But we’re so fortunate to make this beautiful journey on one of the most beautiful trails in the world – right in our backyard.”
The challenge supports the Strange’s Box Run Charitable Foundation. Proceeds donated throughout the feat will be donated to Dr. Sheila Singh’s lab at McMaster University’s Cancer Research Center and to South Central Ronald McDonald House.
Back in 2016, Pietrangelo and Strange scaled the Breithorn in Switzerland to raise money for research. Most recently , in 2018, Strange trekked over 800kms in one month on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He also ran solo across Canada in both 2012 and 2014.
To date, Box Run has raised more than $350,000 for childhood cancer research and support.
For more information, visit www.boxrun.org
You can follow Mike Strange on Instagram at mike_strange18
