Fast Eddy completes There and Back run across Canada

Oct 30, 2016 | 10:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — Fast Eddy has completed his ambitious goal of running across Canada and back to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s and breast cancer charities. 

Edward Dostaler set out from Clover Point in Victoria on March 1 2015, and on Saturday he returned after a final 24-hour run. 

He was greeted by well over 100 people cheering him on as he concluded his 608-day journey.

“It’s still kind of anti-climactic,” Dostaler said, “I kind of viewed it as just another run. It’s been day-in, day-out. I’m sure it will hit me in about a week or so when I realize what’s been accomplished and that I’m not doing this anymore.”

Dostaler’s run wasn’t easy, and he says he was faced with threats and negative comments along the way, which is why he chose to take a location tracker off the Fast Eddy website. His vehicle was vandalized and he was also running alone and unsupported. 

Despite his hardships, Dostaler says he would do it all again. 

“I will say right now that it was a better experience than it was negative,” Dostaler said. “People in itself made this an experience where even if I had to go through everything again I would still do it because I met some amazing people.”

Dostaler estimates he was able to raise around $50,000 for a number of different causes. 

“As far as what’s next, I don’t even know yet. I’m figuring out life.”