Photos courtesy Brysen Howe for the Cure Facebook

By Erika Rolling

2nd Dash to the Cache for Cancer

Local teen walking to Grande Cache to raise money for cancer

Jul 21, 2022 | 12:18 PM

Grande Prairie teen, Brysen Howe decided to walk to Grande Cache when he was only 12 years old to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society with “Dash to the Cache for Cancer” and will be doing it again next week.

“Originally it was a joke, my mom and dad were like ‘oh you can just walk to Grande Cache, you could do that and fundraise’ and I was like you know what.. actually that’s an amazing idea,” he says.

“This has been for a long time, but I’ve had family that has had cancer… it’s always been pretty close to me, not to mention it’s pretty big for most people,” he commented on why he chooses the Canadian Cancer Society to donate to.

Brysen has been donating to the society since he was four years old through fundraisers like singing in the mall in Grande Cache, bottle drives, selling teddy bears, and asking for donations in lieu of gifts for his birthdays.

Back in August 2019, Brysen set out a goal to raise $2,000 while walking 187 km from Grande Prairie to downtown Grande Cache.

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Communities in-between heard of his fundraiser and almost $25,000 was raised and it took him nearly five days to walk the distance.

Brysen is continuing this year with the 2nd Dash to the Cache for Cancer, starting Sunday, July 24 from Grovedale (due to construction) to Grande Cache yet again.

“This time I would like to raise $10,000… I don’t expect it to be as big. I’m just getting out there, I know I’m making a change so anything helps.”

“Last time it did take off and I don’t know if I could ever do something like that again,” he says.

Brysen says he will be putting on around 40 kilometers per day during the trek through the mountains.

“Honestly, I love walking and running it’s pretty fun and just to get out and spend time outside… all of it adds up, it’s awesome, I’m definitely going to enjoy it.”

At the time of this article, almost $1,900 had been donated for the 2nd Dash to the Cache for Cancer.

Updates on his journey can be found on the Facebook page: Brysen Howe for the Cure.