TRURO - A familiar landmark told Leslie MacDonald she was getting close to her hometown as she pedalled her way through Onslow yesterday afternoon.
The Halifax resident is nearing the end of a 6,000-kilometre tour of Canada to raise funds and awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
"I could see the Co-op grain tower, that's certainly a landmark of Truro, so that was exciting," said MacDonald, who called Truro home for 20 years and lived off of Glenwood Drive. "It's certainly a symbol of home."
MacDonald's father Bob passed in 2003 with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, at the age of 54.
The 27-year-old left Vancouver on June 5 and will complete her tour Saturday in Summerside, where her father is buried. She only has two days of riding left to complete her journey.
"It's indescribable actually," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen on Saturday when I actually do cross (the finish line)."
MacDonald, a registered nurse at the IWK in Halifax, has biked 5,500 kilometres by herself and has done about 90 kilometres with other riders before yesterday when Daisy Roberts and Grace Simms of Hub Cycle accompanied her for 124 kilometres into Truro.
"It was awesome, especially the last bit there was some wind so it was a big help to have the girls along and it made the day go by a lot quicker," MacDonald said.
During her time on the road, she hoped she was making a difference and wished for better treatment for those with ALS.
"Of course, I thought about my dad a lot too and that gave me strength to keep going," she said.
And the daily encouragement from friends and family has provided the support to get through the trek.
"There was certainly days I didn't want to get on the bike, but I hold a lot of respect for my friends and I wouldn't want to let them down and, of course, my mother too, she's a huge support. I couldn't have done it without her."
MacDonald has raised awareness and $12,000 through her mission.
"I would be happy with $15,000, I think we can get there in the next couple of days," she said.
MacDonald attended Princess Margaret Rose and St. Mary's elementary schools as well as Truro Junior High School and Cobequid Educational Centre. She attended the University of Prince Edward Island and the University of Calgary.
