WHEN Todd Sloan's stepmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, his younger sister was supported by CanTeen.
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Their stepmother had a double mastectomy and has survived her cancer, but the memory of what CanTeen did for his sister stayed with Todd.
For several years, Todd and his father have donated ten cents for every purchase made from their vending machine company. All donated monies went to CanTeen, but Todd wanted to do more.
After a work place injury ended his career as a diamond driller and landed him on the WorkCover system for over three years, his whole outlook on life changed dramatically. It took him a long time before he was able to deal with the constant physiological problems that came from suffering constant severe pain.
He now feels that he is in a place where his injury (and successful treatment) has made him a stronger person, who can achieve anything he sets his mind to. Four years after his stepmother's illness, Todd made his move.
Four months of planning went into Todd's preparations, - working out at a gym, consulting a nutritionist, talking to a woman who had done the walk before him, contacting every newspaper along the route for forward advertising (only one paper acknowledged Todd's communication), and organising a support crew of one!
On November 3, 2014, Todd stood on the top level of the Westpac tower in Adelaide and started his walk along the Western Highway towards the top level of the Eureka Tower in Melbourne. The highest points in each city.
The Million Steps has not been without incident. At first, Todd's parents took turns at being his support crew and by the time he'd reached Kaniva, Todd was in pain from torn calf muscles. A local doctor advised Todd to stop walking, but for Todd, that was never an option, so Todd bought a bike, and peddled to Horsham using his good leg. A bit of intermittent walking and riding, and Todd is back on his feet, walking from Dadswell's Bridge to Stawell on the Saturday. Todd said that giving up the walk never crossed his mind.
In Stawell, Todd had asked if local Rotarians would be prepared to assist with lunch and a supply of fresh water. Over a cup of coffee, Todd told his story.
He walks an average 40-50 kilometres per day. All donated monies are banked for CanTeen, and Todd is funding the walk from his savings. So far the biggest costs have been food, fuel, and shoes - he is on his third pair of $230 shoes.
Along the way, motel owners have frequently offered free accommodation. So far, the walk has cost Todd more than $2000 of his own money. As he arrived in Stawell, he had collected five and a half thousand dollars for CanTeen, and his goal is to raise $10,000.
In Horsham, his friend Arthur took over as support crew. Born in the Northern Territory of part aboriginal parents, Arthur visited Adelaide, fell in love with the city and stayed.
Having studied administration and also studied at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Arthur took time out from his job to support Todd from Horsham to Ballarat, where Todd's mother tookover.
Arthur has used his contacts in radio to get recognition for Todd's charity walk.
Todd's walk concluded at the top of the Eureka Tower on Sunday.
CanTeen supports young people when cancer turns their world upside down and helps them cope with the physical, emotional and practical impact of living with cancer.
Canteen is there for 12-24 year olds at every stage of their cancer journey, whether they're dealing with, having cancer themselves, a parent, brother or sister being diagnosed with cancer, or the death of a parent, brother or sister.
Follow Todd on his Facebook site - Million Steps to Melbourne. You can help Todd to reach his goal of raising $10,000 for CanTeen by donating on line at www.give.everydayhero.com/au/million-steps-to-melbourne.
Either click on this address on Todd's Facebook site, or paste the address into the google address bar.