Marathoner crossing Canada to honour late husband and others who struggle with addiction

A Winnipeg woman is making her way through Saskatchewan this weekend as part of a cross-Canada tour she has dubbed 'Rwalk the Nation.'

Paddy Quiring is running, walking and riding across Canada in hopes of raising money for the Canadian Liver Foundation and Teen Challenge.

The journey is a personal one for Quiring, who has set out to honour her late husband Henry.

"I'm running for the legacy of my husband who passed away on April 13, last year, from cirrhosis of the liver," she said. "And also for all who struggle with addictions."

According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of liver damage and cirrhosis.

Besides donations from businesses and supporters in person, Quiring and her team (which includes a driver and a manager) have also set up a GoFundMe page to help them along their journey.

The trio started April 13, on the anniversary of Henry's death, from Stanley Park in Vancouver.

Quiring said she hopes to complete the trip on Sept. 23 in Nova Scotia.

The longtime marathon runner said the challenge has proved to be more of a mental than a physical one.

"It's the ongoing psychology of continuing through all those hours and the things that go through your mind," she said.

She has also been surprised with her favourite modes of transportation, having started with the assumption that she'd run most of the way.

"Walking and cycling seems to be a little bit more advantageous. Especially for injuries and such," she said. "I was a lover of jogging, until now. Now I have a new love, and that's cycling."

Quiring travels for about six hours a day and for every three days, she takes one day off to communicate with people who are following along with her journey.

"The majority of our goal is to talk to people and have relationships and to build the awareness and support for the charities," she said.