Disabled athlete attempting to cross Lake Superior
A Toronto man is getting set to become the first disabled athlete to cross Lake Superior on a paddleboard. Mike Shoreman, who made a stop in Sault Ste. Marie Friday, has already crossed Lake Erie, and most recently crossed Lake Huron. He is raising money for youth mental wellness.
When Shoreman was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome he was told he would never paddle board again. Shoreman says the disorder left him with facial paralysis and severely affected his speech, hearing and mobility.
He says the journey across the great lakes in a lot ways mirrors the challenges he’s experienced on the water.
“It’s kind of like a mental health journey. There are times during the crossing where you think… Is this ever going to end? And you get really frustrated, and you get really beat down by it. But I’ve got amazing people supporting me.”
One of those supporters is Liana Neumann. Part of her job is making sure Shoreman has the energy to paddle non-stop.
“He’s literally drinking about 250 millilitres of water every 30 minutes. And just for example, when we crossed Lake Huron, we did the calculations, and he drank 22 litres of water, he had 98-hundred calories, and about 56-hundred grams of carbs in that 28 hour period,” says Neumann.
Shoreman has a large support team, including Neumann, which will be travelling with him by boat as he attempts to cross Lake Superior on July 4th.
“We have a crew that we need to have on the boat for support and safety. So, there’s numbers of people that we need to have there, and they’re trying to work out their schedules. We need to keep Mike mentally and physically healthy and on track and then our biggest variable, of course, is the weather,” Neumann adds.
Shoreman has set a fundraising goal of 250 thousand dollars. He has so far managed to raise just over $54,000. The money will go toward www.jack.org, which works to provide mental health programs to communities across Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.