Walking across Canada one kilometre at a time

It will take months. She will have many ups and downs. Each kilometre will become longer than the one before. Some nights she'll sleep outside in the wet and cold environment, and others, in a Good Samaritan's spare warn bed.

After being diagnosed with Crohn's disease a year ago, 23-year-old Bathurst native Michelle Aubie, realized she wanted to overcome adversity.

Ms. Aubie decided to raise awareness about the illness and money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada, by walking 7795 kilometres across the country. She started in Cape Spear on May 2, and reached Springdale early June.

"I'm doing it in three sections, so this year I'm doing the Atlantic provinces, up until Quebec, and then the following summer Ontario, then hopefully after that, I'll finish up," said Ms. Aubie.

Her goal is to raise $100,000, and complete her journey in Victoria, BC.

Canada has the most diagnosed cases in the world, roughly 200,000 people suffer from irritable bowl syndrome, she said.

"There's a lot of social stigma surrounding the illness because of its symptoms, so a lot of people don't talk about it," said Ms. Aubin.

That's another reason why she's walking nearly 8000 kilometres, to bring a voice to the illness.

And while walking, the majority of the time, her voice is the only one she hears. Ms. Aubin is not only walking across Canada, but she's doing it alone.

For kilometres at a time, her only walking partner is her "Japanese Taxi," carrying her supplies. And sometimes she sleeps under the stars or she manages to find someone who will take her in for the night.

"Sometimes it's either a network through the foundation, or I just go up to people's houses and ask them if they would let me in," she said.

But there's no other province like Newfoundland and Labrador, where people are so warm she said.

"Everyone is fantastic to me, I've made amazing friends," said Ms. Aubin,

Normally Ms. Aubin walks between 25 to 30 kilometres a day, she's determined to finish her journey for this year, before the fall.

"I'm hoping no later then the third week in August," she said.

But her connection to Springdale can be traced back in late April, just before she began her trek. Ms. Aubin was on the ferry, coming from Nova Scotia, and Herb Osbourne started talking with her and Pierre, her walking partner at the time.

"I got a habit of talking to about everybody I see," said Mr. Osbourne.

Once he heard what she was doing, he offered her and Pierre a ride from Port Aux Basques to Springdale. Then he managed to get them a ride on DRL coach lines to St. John's. But with one condition, when she made it back this way, she had to contact him, so the Colbournes could put her up for a few nights.

"I think she's crazy, but you've got to admire her," said Mr. Osbourne, while laughing. "She's an amazing girl, with the nerve she's got. I would've given up in St. John's from Cape Spear."

Ms. Aubin encourages anyone to get in contact with her and join in on the adventure. They can contact her at 506-543-2882 or they can search her website and donate at www.canadiandream.webs.com.