If raindrops were legal currency, Mike Loughman could stop his March For Mental Health right now because he's amassed a fortune in precipitation.

Loughman set out on his 1,000 km walk from High Level to Airdrie with a goal of walking 30 to 40 kilometres a day.  

"The first day I walked 31.7 kms, the next day I walked six hours in the pouring rain and I made it 28.1 kms, and days three and four I don't recall how far I walked but I had to take a two day break because my feet were covered in blisters from the rain and I had shin splints in my left shin and my right ankle was really swollen so everyone said just take a couple of days off."

Aside from his one day of weather issues, Loughman says his walk to raise funds for Airdrie's Thumbs Up Foundation and the Defeat Depression Campaign, and to raise awareness of mental health issues has gone well. Loughman thinks it's definitely raising awareness from people he's met.  

"It's been awesome! Lots of people driving by us honking. People pulling over. One guy brought us a large pizza and water. One lady, her sister's from Airdrie and she saw us on the side of the road and brought us grapes and inspirational quotes. Other people brought us water and we've had a lot of roadside donations. We were actually in the High Level Canada Day parade so that was pretty cool to be part of that. People along the way have been super supportive, super friendly. Yeah, it's just been really, really great."

Loughman says while his fundraising efforts have gone well, he would like to see more come in for the causes he's supporting.  

"We really need more donations to come in. I'd really like to be at the $10,000 mark at least by the time this is all said and done.  It'd be nice to bring in a little more money.  I get more inspired every time I get a notification that a donation came in."

When we spoke to Loughman, he was about 100 metres away from the second bear he's seen on his trip.  He said one of the highlights so far was seeing a baby beaver cross the road in front of him on Canada Day.  "I thought that was pretty cool."

Loughman says he's more determined than ever to finish the entire 1,000 kms walk.  

"I'm behind schedule but it's not a big deal, it's not a race. I just have to get to the finish line. I'm not going to give up, I'm going to make it to the end, I just don't know how long it's going to take me."

 

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