Maybe you are in better shape than I am but as I make plans to begin training for Chestermere’s Annual Loop Around the Lake 5km run which is coming up in June, I feel somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of time and effort that I know it will take me to get into shape so that I am successful at finishing the event.
So you can imagine that the thought of running across Canada…and back again is a lot more than I can wrap my head…or feet around.
Well that’s not the case for Fast Eddy. This (must be slightly crazy) but incredibly motivated and inspiring young man, originally from Hinton, AB, began a journey on March 1 in Victoria that no one else has ever done before.
“Fast Eddy”, otherwise known as Edward Dostaler is running across Canada, twice! And he’s not making it easy on himself either, with a goal of completing the entire distance in just over one year Fast Eddy will be running alone and unassisted for a staggering 25,585 kilometers all across the country. That’s approximately 390kms a week and all he has with him is his three-wheeled jogging stroller packed with supplies like a tent and an extra pair of running shoes.
So the question I wanted to ask is, why? Why would somebody want to take on such an immensely difficult not to mention lonely challenge? Well, Fast Eddy’s “there and back” journey across Canada is to raise money for Alzheimer’s and Breast Cancer charities in each province. But that’s not why. Fast Eddy is running because his Grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, so he has seen firsthand the effects on both the individual and the family.
He also choose the Breast Cancer Foundation as a beneficiary of his funds raised because he wanted a way to honor one of his late University professors who was an advocate of Breast Cancer research and who has sadly passed away.
Fast Eddy ran through Chestermere on Wednesday, April 22 in the late afternoon on his way to Strathmore where he was hoping to find a place to rest for the night before eventually continuing on to Medicine Hat and then into Saskatchewan. A group gathered at Chestermere’s Municipal building to meet and welcome him to our beautiful city, even though it was for only a short stay.
“The hardest part of this is staying mentally prepped, that has been the hardest challenge so far,” comments Eddy. “Physically, I trained for 16 months to prepare for this trip but nothing I could do would prepare me for the mental difficulty I have experienced.”
Nightly calls from his Grandmother and Grandfather keep him going, as does the kindness of strangers who have helped him along the way. “I have only had to stay in my tent one night so far and I am thankful for the kindness I have received.” On his website that chronicles his journey ad fundraising, Eddy has dedicated a section to the Unsung Hero’s that have helped him along the way.
His goal is to raise $800,000 with every dollar donated staying in the province that it was received. Although he has only raised about $2,000 so far he knows that it is still early and that his story will pick up steam as he moves across the provinces.
“A random act of kindness can create an endless ripple; together we can all make change” says Fast Eddy, “”I have promised people my very best and that’s what I am going to give them.”
To support Fast Eddy on this tremendous journey please visit his website at www.fasteddycanada.com.
There, you can donate to his fundraising efforts, see his route and follow his journey. If you have friends or family in the cities he plans to visit, consider letting them know of his upcoming arrival and help organize welcoming committees of kindness every step along the way. He deserves that, and so much more. Fast Eddy will be back in Chestermere on his return trip sometime next year so we will look forward to meeting him again.
