VIDEO: B.C. man carries cross to raise awareness of Canada's most vulnerable

Warren Parke, also known as 'The Old Man',  is on a cross-Canada journey to raise funds for and awareness of vulnerable Canadians, including veterans and Indigenous communities living without clean drinking water.

Carrying a homemade nine-foot cross, Parke began his trek in British Columbia in December. SooToday caught up with him yesterday afternoon in Sault Ste. Marie.

"I set out on this journey in hopes to bring some hope, some faith, and some strength back to Canada," he told us.

Thus far, his GoFundMe campaign has raised $7,280 of his $100,000 target.

"I had come to the end of my rope when I was working on a First Nations Reserve which had no drinkable water," Parke says in a statement posted to his GoFundMe page. "I couldn’t even brush my teeth without buying a bottle of water."

"Our government has failed veterans over and over and over and over," the statement continues. "They say veteran’s are asking for more than they are willing to give right now. I believe veterans are NOT asking for more than WE can give."

Other causes near to Parke's heart include mental health services, Autism awareness, and cancer research.

Supporters can follow his progress on Facebook.