A British Columbia (B.C.) man who is running across Canada for mental health awareness, made a stop in Clarence-Rockland as part of his cross-country journey.

Sachin Latti, from Surrey, B.C. is running an ultramarathon (50 kilometres) a day from Victoria B.C. to St John’s N.L. in an effort to raise awareness about mental health. Latti, a former Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer, hopes to raise one million dollars for mental health awareness across the country by running a 7,500km, 80-day cross-Canada run.

“We started on June 16 and today, we are day 64 and since then, we have spoken to about 5,000 people of all ages who have shared their stories with us,” said Latti.

After serving 18 years with the CBSA, Latti experienced his own mental health struggles, transitioning from law enforcement to an ultra-endurance athlete and marathoner with a new mission. Latti will donate funds to a number of Canadian organizations that support mental health including Their Opportunity, Together We Can and Jack.org.

“If I can do a little bit a day, to raise money and raise awareness for people that are struggling, that, to me, is time well spent,” said Latti from Alain Potvin Park, where his run was livestreamed on social media.

By age 25, approximately 1 in 5 Canadians are diagnosed with a mental illness, with 70 per cent experiencing symptoms before age 18. First responders and veterans are another demographic facing disproportionate mental health challenges with 44.5 pre cent of Canadian public safety professionals screening positive for one or more mental health disorders. In addition, more than one third of Canadian veterans report a mental health problem.

Donations can be made at Latti’s the official website: sachinmotion.ca.