It’s been a long journey for Hasan Syed. But, he still has a long way to go.

"I started realizing that it’s just not one or two kilometers. It’s like 5000," he said.

On April 10, Syed set a goal of running from British Columbia all the way to Ottawa to raise awareness about the lack of clean water in indigenous communities.

"I couldn’t believe that a place like Canada could host communities that don’t have the basic needs provided to them," said Syed,

 

Syed is originally from Pakistan, and has been living in Canada for 18 years. He says he has witnessed firsthand how hard it is not having access to clean water.

"When I found out about this, the first thing I remember is my mom going from the kitchen with a big hot pot of boiling water going towards the dining room, and putting the water into the cheese cloth” he said. “I just can’t comprehend that someone here is living conditions that I was used to over there.”

 

For Syed, this journey hasn't been easy. His original plan was to run 50 kilometres a day and finish his journey within 150 days. However, he wasn’t fully aware what he had put himself into. He's finding out 50 kilometres a day is too much for an untrained body.

"I just didn’t understand that your body has a max time out,” he said. “It actually maxes out if you haven’t trained it properly. So the most I have run is seven kilometres in high school, and 10 years later I’m doing this.”

In addition, due to limited financial support, Syed says affording necessities like food, shelter, and vehicle proved to be harder than expected. However, he is thankful for the generosity of one family in Regina that offered him a place to stay.

"Any support we can give someone is what we have been taught to do,” said host Faeeza Moola. “It’s part of our religion as well help anybody that needs help and this is something my parents have taught me. If someone is in need, then just take them in and try and help them.”

To successfully finish this journey, Syed says he needs financial support from the community and for members to spread the word about the cause. But. He remains hopeful.

"I highly believe that when Canadians know about this they are not going to want to stand by and be like ‘no this is not happening in our backyard,’" he said,

So far, Syed has completed about 1,000 kilometres. On Tuesday, he will be heading down the highway going towards Winnipeg. He hopes to complete his journey by the end of October this year.