Let’s get one thing straight: I hate running. I absolutely hate it.
But I’m willing to do it – to the best of my ability – to raise funds and awareness for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
When I first started Northern Trek back in 2018, it was just a personal idea. Something quiet. I hadn’t yet seen the full impact of the foundation’s work. That came later.
That year, I did my run in June. It wasn’t until I attended the National Memorial in September that I truly saw what the foundation stood for. I watched a family receive the helmet and medallion. I saw a child trace their parent’s name on the wall. No words – just silence, tears, and the weight of what had been left behind.
That moment locked it in for me. This wasn’t just a fundraiser anymore. It was about memory, honor, and standing in for those who no longer can.
The foundation supports every kind of firefighter in this country – career, volunteer, wildland, industrial, military, and contract. When one of us falls, they make sure that person is honored. That their name is spoken. That their family isn’t forgotten.
That matters. And it’s not someone else’s job. If we believe in the brotherhood and the oath, then this work is part of it.
When I was looking for a way to support the cause, Northern Trek was born. The name gave me a bit of freedom – because I’m not a runner. Walking, jogging, crawling – whatever it takes – I was in.
In 2018, we raised more than $13,000. That money helped send families to the national memorial so they could witness their loved one being honored with dignity and respect.
The next year, I tried to take on too much. In 2019, I attempted to complete the route in just three days. It was too ambitious. I hadn’t trained properly, and honestly, I’m just not a great runner to begin with. I ended up injured and had to stop halfway through. A month later, I returned to finish the route. My dad came along that time, riding his bike beside me for two days straight. That photo from 2019 means a lot – it was the same stretch I’ll be doing again this year.
This year’s Northern Trek runs from Edson, Alta., to Jasper, Alta., from Aug. 19–23. The route is heavier this time, not just physically but emotionally. The 2024 Jasper Wildfire Complex tore through a third of the Municipality of Jasper and burned deep into the national park. Alberta wildfire firefighter Morgan Kitchen lost his life in that fire.
That’s why this year matters even more.
Since the beginning, we’ve raised more than $127,000. My knees, hips, and feet have taken a beating – but I’ve kept going, and I haven’t done it alone. Fellow firefighters, generous donors, strangers who just believe in the cause – they’ve all carried this thing forward.
So if any of this resonates with you, here’s how you can help:
Donate if you’re able. Share the message. Join the Trek if it calls to you. Whatever it looks like for you, it matters.
Every step matters.
Every name remembered is a legacy protected.
And you can be part of it.
To donate, please go to Northern Trek for the CFFF 2025 before Sept. 14.
