Edmonton man laces up for 2 marathons Sunday in support of mental health
An Edmonton man spent his birthday Sunday pushing himself to the limit to try and help others.
Tyler Cantos will run the length of two marathons over the day to raise money and awareness for men's mental health.
"It's something that with men, we tend to try to mask and not share with others. And that's my goal here, is to help men realize that it's OK to talk about it," Cantos said.
The newly 29-year-old will run, jog and walk more than 84 kilometres. That's around seven kilometres more than the length of Anthony Henday Drive.
Cantos isn't a runner, but he enjoys pushing himself.
"I know that I've done challenges in the past where I've pushed myself through, so I just take that on into my mindset," he said. "I know I can do it, it will just take time."
The furthest Cantos had run before Sunday was 15 miles (24 kilometres). He tried to take on a 42 kilometre marathon run last weekend, but had to walk the last 25.
But Cantos said he's determined to push through – not set records.
"If it takes me 18 hours to do it, it takes me 18 hours," he added.
Jackie Vizza was one of several well-wishers who stopped by to cheer Cantos on. She said she wasn't surprised by his choice of challenge.
"He always just goes for it, dreams big," Vizza said. "Once he said he was doing it, I was like, 'Yup, this is just another day in the life."
Cantos is hoping to raise $40,000, which would help 100 men access therapy for a month with a BetterHelp subscription.
Sunday his GoFundMe had raised just $376, but he wasn't deterred.
He is extending his fundraising over the next year, with challenges every few months leading up to an even more ambitious fundraiser for his thirtieth birthday.
"I'm thinking of doubling it next year, doing 100 miles," Cantos said.
"I have no doubts that if he wants to do it, he'll do it," Vizza said. "It's going to be a lot of work … It'll be interesting to see how that goes over the next year."
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.