Here's why a group of Toronto friends just walked for 69 hours to Niagara Falls

On the night of Sept. 1 at exactly 10:55 p.m., Trevaun Douglas took his final steps towards the U.S. border at Niagara Falls. After walking more than 141 kilometres over the span of 69 hours, he completed a journey that pushed both his physical and mental limits for the sole purpose of empowering the youth of his community. 

Douglas is the founder of Mind On Strength, a grassroots youth empowerment initiative based in Lawrence Heights that regularly organizes community programs to support young people and their families through mentorship, movement, education, and healing. 

The initiative's back-to-school fundraisers, which are a huge component of its programming, help to provide essentials, sneakers and clothing, haircuts and braids, grocery cards and emergency food boxes, mental health resources, and scholarships and field trips for the youth in the community. 

Last year, Douglas and a group of friends raised over $47,000 after completing a 46-hour walk from Toronto to the U.S. side of Niagara Falls. This year, they set out on a similar quest with the goal of raising $50,000 for students in Lawrence Heights. 

Douglas — who was joined by his friends Dave, Jamal, Elijah, and Jaden — started his walk on Aug. 30 at 1:30 a.m. at Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Over the next several days, their journey took them from Toronto to Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Grimsby, Lincoln, Jordan, St. Catharines, and finally, Niagara Falls. 

"Growing up in Lawrence Heights, I've seen firsthand the struggles young people face, lack of resources, negative stereotypes, and feeling like opportunities are out of reach. I wanted to do something bold enough to spark conversation, show unity, and raise real support for youth programs," Douglas told blogTO.

"It wasn't just about the distance, it was about proving that when you put one foot in front of the other, no matter how far the journey, change is possible." 

The walk, as documented by Jamal on TikTok, was a grueling feat, to say the least. The 13-minute video showing the group's journey from Toronto to Niagara Falls has already amassed over 380,000 views and 50,000 likes. 

@jamaltlee Walking From Toronto Ontario to Niagara Falls USA to raise money for youth and families in need! Link to donate will be in my Instagram bio! https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-empower-youth-all-year-in-lawrence-heights?attribution_id=sl:fc7fe964-95b1-4b1f-ad83-732810c33d14&utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link #walk #Toronto #Marathon #Fundraise #Youth ♬ Lofi/Fashionable/Rose Piano/10 minutes(1455693) - nightbird_bgm

"There were definitely moments when my body felt like shutting down but more so my mind. The blisters, the swelling, the rashes, the exhaustion, it all hit hard. But every time I thought about stopping, I pictured the youth in my community and why I am doing this walk. I thought about the kids who don't believe they can make it out, the ones who feel forgotten," Douglas explained. 

"Quitting wasn't an option, because if I gave up on that road, it would've been like giving up on them. What carried me through those 69 hours was faith, resilience, and the belief that my pain could be transformed into purpose." 

While some of Douglas' friends were forced to drop out of the walk for a variety of issues — whether it be painful blisters or just pure exhaustion — he continued on, sometimes passing out on patches of grass alongside the road. 

Miraculously, Douglas and Dave managed to inch their way to Niagara Falls, and officially completed their walk on Sept. 1. The journey, Douglas says, was just about raising money for youth, as it was personal. 

"I was one of those kids who could’ve been lost to the streets, the system, or negativity. I started community work at 13 as a youth outreach worker for Toronto Community Housing, the same time I was offered to join a gang being in grade 7," he said. 

"However, having mentors at such a young age like Temesgen Ghebremicael who was a community worker in Lawrence Heights back in those times and now is an important leader across the city of Toronto in today's time, I saw how different a young person's future can look when they feel supported instead of written off."

At the time of this article's publication, Mind On Strength's fundraiser has managed to raise nearly $12,000 out of its $50,000 goal. The campaign, Douglas says, aims to address and provide "lifelines" for youth in these communities. 

"Too often, funding comes in short bursts or gets tied up in red tape, leaving communities scrambling," he told blogTO. 

"Our youth don't need more barriers, they need bridges. Organizations like Unison Health and Community Services, under the leadership of people like Director Sewit Tamene, play a vital role in making sure we as a community even have space to gather and run these programs. If it weren't for that support, who knows if many of these initiatives would even be possible?  It's proof that when the government works together with community organizations that are already on the ground, the impact is multiplied." 

Douglas adds that with his initiatives, he is trying to bridge the gap between the programs that exist on paper and the kids who need them the most. 

"The goal is to give young people something consistent they can count on, something that builds discipline, confidence, and hope," he said. 

"It's not just about keeping kids busy; it's about giving them a vision for who they can become."