By Duck Paterson
Phileas Fogg, imaginary traveller in Jules Vernes novel Around The World In 80 Days was just that B次元官网网址� imaginary, but Mitchell B次元官网网址楳itchB次元官网网址� Buxton is far from imaginary.
Buxton, a 25-year-old lifelong resident of Ladysmith has his own travel goal, and his goal is intended to benefit hundreds of people with mental health issues and is sanctioned by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
B次元官网网址淎fter watching a man named Alex bike across Canada,B次元官网网址� Buxton said, B次元官网网址淚 decided I could do similar and do it for the benefit of others. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when I decided I would cycle from Vancouver to Toronto in 30 days.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver to Toronto is a trip of 4,607 kilometres and being accomplished in 30 days would require a cyclist to pedal 153.5 kilometres per day. Buxton is hoping that he can accomplish this but said B次元官网网址減edalling the Rockies I think it will be around 100 kilometres a day, so when we reach the prairies IB次元官网网址檒l have to pump it up to make up the difference.B次元官网网址�
Buxton who did all his schooling in Ladysmith and graduated from Ladysmith Secondary found has ambition after trying a few occupations. His first was an electrical apprenticeship where he spent five months working on the north end of Baffin Island in Nunavut.
B次元官网网址淭hat was an experience,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓specially the different animals birds and even the weather. Lots of Arctic foxes, caribou, and even a polar bear, but it was damn cold.B次元官网网址�
Electricity turned out not to be his thing. After a couple of different occupations, Mitch found health care and it stuck. He got his nursing diploma in two years and after that graduation realized that the mental health side of health care was where he fit.
B次元官网网址淲hen we finished nursing school we had various aspects of health care we could move into and nobody in my class picked mental health, I figured IB次元官网网址檇 give it a shot. It was in the midst of the pandemic and I witnessed the mental strain it cause for not only my clients and colleagues, but to society as a whole. After losing a family member to suicide, I felt helpless and wanted to make a difference.B次元官网网址�
Buxton is now teaching at Vancouver Island University, working with nursing and other health care students. On weekends Buxton works at the mental health unit at Cowichan Lodge in Duncan.
Working seven days a week hasnB次元官网网址檛 allowed him much time to train for his trek but he said B次元官网网址渓iving in Ladysmith has given me a good start as I have been running and criss-crossing the hills in town every opportunity I can get.B次元官网网址�
His plan is to start using the Malahat as the next level of training, as it could be like the Rockies. The bicycle that Buxton will be using is a TREK road bike that he paid $1,200 for.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not the real bike that the pros use, but itB次元官网网址檚 what I could afford and hopefully it will carry me through,B次元官网网址� he said.
One of the other hurdles, according to Buxton is expenses.
B次元官网网址淢y friend Ken Thomson will be the only other person accompanying me on the journey,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗e will be driving the VW escort vehicle which will also carry all our camping gear, clothing, and food. The gas and other costs are my responsibilities.B次元官网网址�
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The personal expenses are one of the reasons for putting a 30-day time frame on the trip, plus Buxton has only so many days off and being realistic he feels that the physical as well as mental challenges will be enough and heB次元官网网址檚 also going back to school in September.
The goal of $10,000 is a reach, says Buxton says but by mid-April he was making pretty good headway on the fundraising. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e managed to raise almost $7,000 so far,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think I can make it, IB次元官网网址檇 actually like to go over, but IB次元官网网址檓 going to get to the goal first. IB次元官网网址檓 getting donations from different people and the Kinsmen donated $2,000, which was an amazing boost.B次元官网网址�
All funds donated through the B次元官网网址楳indful MilesB次元官网网址� fundraiser are designated to go through the Canadian Mental Health Association, with the stipulation they remain in B.C. for causes where the chapter feels it would be best used.
The CMHA will issue receipts for all donations more than $20. People wishing to donate can also go online to Canadahelps.org, find a fundraiser B次元官网网址楳indful MilesB次元官网网址�. Buxton can also be reached by email at buxtonmitchell@gmail.com or by phone at 250-713-0206.
