Friend's battle with cancer inspires rollerblader's journey across Canada

When close friend Adam Reid was diagnosed with both lung and throat cancer, Richard Ralph was shocked.

How could Reid, just 26 years of age, physically active and a non-smoker, contract not just one serious type of cancer but two?

Ralph, whos 27, began to think about what he could do. What he decided after considering his options was to rollerblade across Canada, telling his story and gathering contributions.

His project is dubbed Skate For Hope.

Ralph told Reid of his plans and hoped Reid might be able to come along on this journey but his health would not allow for it.

Ralph, a native of Kingston, Ont., who now calls Vancouver home, started his journey in St. Johns on May 5.

He was supposed to start May 4 but the 1978 model RV his parents were using as a support vehicle for this project broke down. Ralphs parents, Bev and Brian, both retired teachers, travel in the vehicle, along with the familys 16-year-old pet beagle, Winnie.

His parents fully support his efforts.

When I told them I was going to take five months off from work and skate across the country they were skeptical, but when they saw how much work I had put into this project and how much research I had done they went along with it.

Ralph, who arrived on P.E.I. May 19 and left on Tuesday, said he hopes to raise $300,000 through this project.

Ralph, who skates about 100 km a day, hopes to reach Vancouver in September but has made allowances for unexpected problems.

So far he says the support shown by people has been encouraging.

People have been very supportive and encouraging. Theyve given me cash out of the windows of their cars, written cheques and donated online on my website.

Ralph said they are set up to issue tax receipts if people request them.

Hes raised just over $5,000 thus far but expects the donations should really begin to pick up as he approaches larger centres like Toronto and Ottawa, cities where he knows a lot of people.

Hes driving himself hard but so far has sustained only one minor injury.

The very first day I skated, a wheel broke off and I fell. But I do wear safety gear so I wasnt hurt bad, just a cut.

Asked how the money he raises will be spent at the end of the day,

Ralph said lung cancer research would be the prime beneficiary.

Online donations will go to the Prince Margaret Hospital Foundation in Toronto. Thats where my friend is being treated. Cash donations will go pretty much to the University of Alberta in Edmonton. I did some research on their research and their facilities are amazing. One of the drugs they have worked on developing has significant findings and is

inexpensive. Its effective on lung, breast and brain cancer.

Ralph is keeping a daily online journal of his travels and that journal can be read on his website at WWW.SEETHEEND.COM.

I try to keep the diary up to date when I can access an Internet connection.