A Nova Scotia marathon runner is taking on his biggest challenge yet, and raising money along the way.
Cape Sable Island’s Landon Smith is running from the southernmost tip of Nova Scotia, The Hawk on Cape Sable Island, to the province’s northernmost point, Meat Cove in Cape Breton.
Smith is raising money for Autism Nova Scotia’s day camp program.
He says he’s inspired by his nephew, who is autistic.
“I think it’s so hard for parents, especially if they’re non verbal,” said Smith. “They don’t know what’s wrong because the child can’t communicate, it’s just so hard on the parents and the children too.”
He went on to detail how demanding meeting the needs of an autistic child can be.
“Its going to go to the summer camps, because they need one counselor per child,” said Smith. “That way it gives the kids a break and the parents a break.”
Smith said he’s an experienced marathon runner, but the more than 780-kilometre run will be by far the furthest he’s ever done.
Even his daily goals are ambitious.
“I’m hoping between 70 to 80 (kilometres), that’s my goal,” said Smith. “I don’t know if I’ll hit that every day, but I know when I get to Cape Breton things will really slow down… it’s a lot of days of running, it’s a lot of time on your feet.”
Community members and supporters can follow Landon’s journey on the Landon’s Tip-to-Tip Facebook page.
Donations can be made here, where Smith has already raised $17,901, well surpassing his original $5,000 goal.
