A month and a half ago, 21-year-old Daniel Cloutier strapped on his inline skates in Vancouver, B.C., and began heading east.
Later today, he'll roll into Greater Sudbury today, three years to the date of his uncle's death following a four-year battle with cancer. His girlfriend, Chantal Courcelles, estimate they will arrive in the city between 2 and 3 p.m.
Greater Sudbury is a stop on the way to Halifax, N.S., where Cloutier will end his trek at the end of July.
The university student is honouring his uncle, and a grandmother who beat the disease, by skating across Canada. He said he hopes to raise awareness about Cancer, as well as raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Cloutier has raised about $20,000 out of a goal of $100,000.
On average, Cloutier skates about 75 km a day. During his trip, he's had to contend with rain, heat and humidity, two-lane highways and logging trucks, and the mountainous Rockies and the hilly highways of northwestern Ontario.
He is accompanied Courcelles and his father, Alain, who follow in a truck and trailer. Their stops every night are usually at campgrounds.
Cloutier blogs his daily experiences at www.dontstopbelieving.ca.
