Airdronian Mike Loughman is planning to walk from Edmonton to Airdrie with a five-pound ball and chain to help raise funds for Sober Friends Society (Loughman's society) and the Mood Disorder Society of Canada. The walk is called Mike Marches Again for Mental Health.

Loughman will be doing the walk with Brodie Bennett-Aru while Elle Geary will be their driver to help make sure they are travelling safely.

According to Loughman, he has done a walk like this before to help fundraise funds.

"I decided to walk from High Level, which is where I went to a recovery centre back in 2014, which got me sober. I walked from there back to Airdrie with a five-pound ball and chain. I did it to raise money for the Thumbs Up Foundation and for the Mood Disorder Society of Canada."

The group will be driving from Airdrie to Edmonton after getting a send-off and leaving from City Hall on August 11.

When they get to Edmonton, Loughman will be hosting a paint night, which he does regularly with the Sober Friends Society.

Airdronian Jaadaas Jagwaa will also be going up to Edmonton to be the artist and help guide the night.

"August 12 will be a day of rest, and getting ready for the walk, and then August 13 from Edmonton, we walk! We're probably gonna walk 30 to 40 kilometres a day."

Loughman explained why they are wearing the ball five-pound ball and chain.

"It represents addictions and mental health and the stigmas and challenges attached to mental health and addiction."

One thing Loughman is excited about is he mentioned many Airdronians have reached out and asked if they could walk alongside him at certain points.

"People will drive up, get dropped off, they'll walk with us for the day. Then at the end of the day, they'll get picked up and taken home. They'll all try and raise money for us as well."

Along the way, Loughman hopes they will be able to stay in hotels and eat meals that will be donated, which he had no problem with the first time through.

Loughman predicts it will probably take around two weeks to get back to Airdrie.

A Facebook Page has been made for the walk, a website is on the way for people to make donations. He did state if people are eager to make donations, they can do it through the Sober Friends Society and just leave a note saying the funds are for the walk.

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