7 million steps (3 photos)

You may have spotted him around the Sault over the past few days.

Maybe at a Soo Greyhound game or during this past weekend's Santa Claus Parade.

He was the hearty fellow with a bunch of gear and a beautiful Siberian husky in-tow.

His name is Bret Mavriik and he's walking from Toronto to Whistler, BC with his trusty canine companion Nymeria.

With minimal road support and opting to sleep outside, the former landscaper is making the journey to raise funds and awareness for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation.

"This is my way of giving something back. But it's even more than that," Mavriik told SooToday. "There should be more being done when it comes to kids mental health. In my opinion, kids don't vote and they don't pay taxes, so when it comes to their mental health, there's only so much that will be done to help."

CAMH strives to provide new and timely treatment of adolescent depression and other mental health issues in order to prevent addiction and suicide.

"It's about awareness and support," he said. "The awareness is a big thing for me. Parents with kids with mental health issues need to know where they can go for help."

Mavriik said that when he was a child in the 70s, teachers and caregivers often labelled troubled kids as stupid or chose to ignore behaviours that may have been indicators of mental illness.

He told us he sees far too many people suffering with mental health issues left to their own devices without proper care, support or life skills.

His journey, which he estimates will take him seven million steps to complete, is a very personal one having suffered through mental health issues himself.

He will conclude the trek by climbing Whistler Mountain, an individual challenge that represents his own struggle.

Mavriik and Nymeria prepared for two years before selling his business and everything he owns, and departing Toronto on September 28.

The pair walked every day after work and spent four months living outside in order to condition themselves.

"I had to get out of the shadow of the city to get people to really see that I was serious about doing this," he said. "There were a lot of doubters. But the further I go, the louder I get."

While traversing the country on foot in the winter is certainly a test of will, Mavriik told us that's kind of the point.

"The whole thing about doing this with very minimal road support [in the winter] is the struggle. No day is good," he explained. "When people meet us, I'm the cranky, gruff half and Nymeria is the happy, welcoming half."

During their time in the Sault, Mavriik and Nymeria found shelter at the Bellevue Park bandshell, sleeping under the giant Canadian flag.

He told us it was a rather pleasant experience as the structure offered protection from the elements and restrooms with running hot water.

The hike between Toronto and the Sault was a little less pleasant, he said.

"We've been bogged down for about two weeks out of the 45 days due to hard rain. I'd probably be an idiot and walk in it, but I can't make [Nymeria] do that."

As rough as the walk has been thus far, Mavriik knows the worst has yet to come.

The road between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay is long and lonely, and winter is the Prairies can be harsh and unforgiving to say the least.

But he feels these trials will be worth it in the end.

"Kids are our future, no matter how you look at it. And it's all kids," he said. "They shouldn't be seen as a burden on society. They need to be taken care of."

With support from his two grown sons, a GoFundMe account has been set up to finance Mavriik and Nymeria along their journey.

He also posts to social media daily, and supporters can follow the pair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To learn more about the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation, please click here.

For more information about Mavriik and Nymeria, please visit www.followourwalk.com.