B.C. fire fighters run from Penticton to Victoria to support Paralympian

Four B.C. runners started today on a run from Penticton to Victoria, a distance of 432K, to raise awareness for Paralympics, and to raise funds to support two-time Paralympic skier Braydon Luscombe, 26, who lost his right leg to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) at the age of five.

RELATED: Dave Proctor’s cross-Canada trip ends in Halifax with mixed emotions

For Luscombe, losing his leg at such a young age meant learning determination and self-reliance early. Those qualities served him well on his quest to become a paralympic skier, and having an able-bodied older brother who has always looked out for him hasn’t hurt as he enters his eighth season with Team Canada.

Tyler Luscombe, 28, who lives in Penticton, dreamed up the idea for the run to help his younger brother, who lives in Victoria, pay the team fees ($5,500) and equipment costs ($4,500) required of each team member. Tyler and three friends (Melissa Irish, Braydon Kellett and Danny Larsen) will run the route relay-style, covering an average of about 50K total each day. All are fire fighters, and by necessity excellent runners. (Back in the day, Tyler’s high school 4x100m relay team made it to provincials.)

The group expects the journey to take about 10 days, and they are being accompanied by an RV that will carry their gear and allow them periodic rest stops. 

There are various ways to support the cause:

Click here for the run’s Pledge It page, where you can donate a flat amount or per kilometre.

Click here to donate a set amount via the run’s Go Fund Me page.

Click here for the run’s Facebook page, where you can also donate.

If you’re in Penticton, visit Cannery Brewing and buy a grunt or a growler (a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the run between November 2 and November 12).