ItB次元官网网址檚 not every day one gets to travel across the country B次元官网网址� from Victoria to the tip of Nova Scotia B次元官网网址� let alone on a bike.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what Kane Mercer did, to draw attention to the need for support of hospice palliative care. MercerB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楻ide for RandB次元官网网址� was in honour of his father Randy, who passed away from cancer in five years ago.

Mercer kicked off his adventure from Gonzales Beach in May, arriving in New Glasgow, N.S. last month. With so many charities and organizations assisting cancer research, Mercer wanted to raise money for hospice, a place he could make a difference with his efforts.

B次元官网网址淚t was a cathartic experience for me, for sure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧ersonally I feel a lot healthier. It helped me to get over some of the difficulties [of] the loss of my dad.B次元官网网址�

While Mercer was cycling through the mountains of Alberta and the plains of Saskatchewan, staff at Victoria Hospice came across the story of . Two years prior, the New Glasgow man walked across the country B次元官网网址� from his hometown to Victoria B次元官网网址� in honour of his own fatherB次元官网网址檚 battle with cancer. That knowledge inspired Mercer to re-route his trip to finish at the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society, where he met Bos.

For University of Victoria grad Mercer, visiting Northern Ontario, the Bay of Fundy and P.E.I. were just some of the highlights of his first cross-country trip. B次元官网网址淭here were a lot of storms [along] the way,B次元官网网址� he said. Mercer rode through rain in each of the 10 provinces. B次元官网网址淏ut, it was great seeing the skies and the clouds coming in and the shifting weather.B次元官网网址�

Mercer documented the whole adventure on a Go Pro strapped to his helmet and on his .

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always had a real faith in humanity,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t just reaffirms it, to go across to see coast to coast how nice and how supportive people were.B次元官网网址�

A family in Radium Hot Springs whom Mercer chatted with one afternoon later found themselves in the same restaurant. They quietly paid his tab before Mercer could even say thank you.

MercerB次元官网网址檚 mother, Cheryl, and brother, Aaron, joined hospice staff and volunteers on Wednesday to welcome him home as he rode in on his bike in front of Richmond Pavilion, 106 days after he began his journey.

B次元官网网址淭he care and the support that our father received here,B次元官网网址� Aaron said of the hospice, B次元官网网址渢his is really to honour them.B次元官网网址�

Mercer plans to volunteer at Victoria Hospice, to support what he feels is a chronically underfunded and neglected area of care.

And, returning phone calls, he laughed. B次元官网网址淪tudent loans are calling.B次元官网网址�

kristyn.anthony@vicnews.com