By the numbers, James Newman’s plan is staggering.
The 22-year-old McGill Science student is hoping to run across Canada, more than 7,500 kilometres, in less than 100 days. Roughly 75 to 80 kilometres a day. A fundraising goal of $250,000.
He expects to spend up to 10 or 11 hours a day running, consuming around 10,000 calories daily to sustain the effort.
But Newman insists those numbers are not the point.
“The numbers are there, sure,” he said. “But that’s not really what this is about. It’s about giving hope and building a community.”
On May 18, Newman will begin running from St. John’s, N.L., to Victoria, B.C., tracing a path inspired by his childhood hero, Terry Fox.
Along the way, Newman says he will raise funds for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada to create a renewable scholarship for youth who have experienced trauma and instability.
A run shaped by loss and support
Newman’s motivation is deeply personal.
At age seven, he and his brothers lost both parents in a tragedy that upended their lives. In the years that followed, they moved between homes before eventually being taken in by their grandparents. He grew up mostly in Oakville, Ont.
“I was lucky,” Newman said. “I had people who stepped in, who supported me, who believed in me when they didn’t have to.”
That sense of having a “crew” behind him stayed with him. He knows not every child in similar circumstances has that support.
“For a lot of kids in these situations, when they finish high school, there isn’t that network,” he said. “There isn’t the financial support to even consider post-secondary education.”
That is what he hopes to change. He said that all funds raised through his run will go toward an endowment that provides ongoing scholarships, helping students not just get to university but finish their degrees.
“A scholarship is more than money,” he said. “It’s hope. It’s something to look forward to. It’s a path forward.”
More than kilometres
Newman’s journey will demand immense physical endurance.
Still, he is building time into his schedule to stop along the way.
“This isn’t just about running as far as I can,” he said. “There are going to be days where I run less so I can visit group homes, charities and youth organizations.”
Those visits are central to his mission. Newman wants to meet young people, hear their stories and offer something he once needed himself: someone who understands.
“When I was younger, one of the hardest things was feeling like no one could relate to what I was dealing with,” he said. “If I can be that person for someone else, even for a moment, then that matters.”
He said he hopes those interactions will help build a broader sense of connection and community.
“I want kids to know that even if things feel really heavy right now, something better is still possible,” he said. “Your dreams are still worth chasing.”
Appreciation for life
Newman said that in addition to helping others, he expects his run to enhance his own well-being.
During the long hours on the road, running becomes something more than physical effort, he said.
“You think about everything,” he said. “You think about your life, you think about where you’ve been, and you get this appreciation for everything.”
At times, he focuses on the landscape around him – the changing terrain, the quiet stretches of road – and the rare chance to feel fully present.
“You’re not distracted,” he said. “It’s just you, your thoughts and the environment around you.”
When the kilometres become difficult, he returns to his purpose.
“I just focus on why I’m doing it and being grateful for the ability to do so,” he said.
Personal growth
McGill has played an important role in Newman’s journey.
“This is a special place,” he said. “It’s so diverse, and you’re surrounded by so many incredible people from all over with different perspectives. It really pushes you to grow – not just academically, but as a person.
“I chose to come to McGill because I felt like it was where I would grow the most. That’s exactly what happened.”
Looking ahead
Newman’s run has a clear finish line: the Pacific coast, less than 100 days after he leaves St. John’s.
What comes after is less certain.
Beyond starting his master’s degree in the fall, Newman admits he doesn’t have a detailed plan. The road ahead, unlike the one he is about to run, is not mapped out kilometre by kilometre.
But that uncertainty doesn’t trouble him.
“I can’t tell you what the future will hold for me,” he said. “But I can say that I want to be kind, I want to love and I want to be someone others can count on.”
On May 18, Newman will begin putting those words into motion – one step at a time, across an entire country.