Niagara Falls to Ottawa: May 19* – June 1, 2024 (*May 18 – Niagara Falls Illumination)
Greg McPherson, Founder of the On The Road 4 Mental Health along with a team of volunteers and sponsors is producing a 14-day event that will cut through Thorold supporting the campaign to raise awareness of the mental health and toxic drug crisis.
The event will begin with the illumination of Niagara Falls in green (mental health) and purple (overdose awareness) at 9:15pm on Saturday, May 18. On the following morning, Greg will begin a 600km, 14 day walk from Niagara Falls to Ottawa to raise awareness to the mental health and toxic drug crisis. The walk route will arrivie in Thorold via the Thorold Tunnel at approximately 11:00am on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
“My family has deep ties in the Niagara region and spent much time with relatives in Niagara Falls, Thorold, Welland and St. Catharines! My father was born and raised in Thorold and has his likeness on a mural near lock 7, wearing his U.N. blue beret.”
Greg McPherson, Founder of the On The Road 4 Mental Health
Greg altered his route in Thorold to pass by his Great Grandfather’s house on Ormond Street as well as his grandmother’s house on Whyte Ave where he would often visit when he was young.
On January 6, 2019 the McPherson family (Greg, his wife Ingrid, and children Aaron, Chelsea and Kaelan) lost their son and brother (Aric) to mental health and addictions. Two years later they lost a good friend of Aric’s (Madeleine Soroczan-Wright) to suicide.
On the Road 4 Mental Health, was founded in 2022 by Greg and Aaron McPherson in memory of Aric and Madeleine. Along with the support the entire McPherson family, Greg and Aaron set out in 2022 to raise awareness to the mental health and toxic drug crisis which took Aric and Madeleine from this world. During its first two years the event was held in Ottawa, but this year Greg will set out from Niagara Falls, Ontario and walk 600 kilometres over 14 days, through communities ravaged by the mental health and toxic drug crisis.
Greg will begin his walk, alongside two of his adult children, Aaron and Kaelan and anyone else who wishes to join them for the first few kilometres.
Go to their website to learn more about the event.