A Peterborough man has unexpectedly become a Facebook celebrity this summer as he has makes his way, on foot, to the shores of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Michael Sutherland is a father of two and former trucker who was injured on the job. After he developed diabetes, which has already claimed part of his foot, he decided to take a bucket-list journey to visit the East Coast.
Sutherland didn’t intend to walk to Halifax. When he left Peterborough at the end of June, he set out in his old RV but then his vehicle broke down a short time later.
Undeterred, he piled as many of his belongings as he could on a push cart and continued the long journey by foot. His diabetes affects his feet, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his dream.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he tells CTV News in an interview.
As of the date of this story, Sutherland has arrived in Fredericton, New Brunswick. With the exception of a ride across Quebec, he has travelled the entire way on foot.
In the process, he has become a Facebook celebrity. Both inspired by Sutherland’s journey and concerned for his safety, Andrew Martin and friends set up a Facebook group called Where In The World Is Michael Sutherland Now?.
Over the summer, interest about Sutherland’s journey has exploded, and the Facebook group is fast approaching 10,000 members.
The Facebook group includes many photos by people who’ve met Sutherland after they spotted him on the road during his trek. With his long hair and moustache and bright orange safety vest, as he pushes his cart of belongings, he’s hard to miss.
People stop to speak with Sutherland and often take selfies with him, which they post in the Facebook group along with his current location.
But it’s not just about taking selfies with a man on an inspirational journey. People have helped Sutherland by buying or giving him food, coffee, drinks, a place to stay or have a shower, or money to help him pay for his medication and other necessities like new shoes.
They’ve even donated and installed new wheels for his cart.
And they share their stories about meeting Sutherland on the Facebook group. There’s also a Google Map of his journey.
“It’s not really about me anymore,” Sutherland says. “It’s all these stories and the people that talk to me. If it wasn’t for that, I don’t think I’d even be here. I think would have quit a long time ago.”
Despite the effects of diabetes on his feet, Sutherland walks each day for around 12 hours, covering up to 40 kilometres.
He has about 450 kilometres left to go before he reaches the Atlantic Ocean, into which he plans to dip at least a toe. Because of his health condition, supporters are making sure he has regular access to medical care.
He carries a banner, donated by a supporter, which is now covered with comments and signatures from the people he has met on his journey.
Sutherland is amazed by the outpouring of support he has received, both in person and online. Ironically, Sutherland doesn’t have access to Facebook, but he’s aware of the group.
Like some of us, he says he never knew what his purpose was in the world. Now that his original goal of getting to the East Coast has become something else entirely — both for him and for those who have met him — perhaps he has found it.
“I don’t know how this turned into such a big thing,” he says. “But I know it fills my heart and I know I have angels on my shoulders.”
