You may have noticed Les Lampkin walking around Sault Ste. Marie, usually wearing the distinctive purple-coloured SOYA clothing. What you may not have realized is Lampkin has been on a years-long journey to raise awareness for the street-level organization by walking the equivalent of a trip around the world.
On Tuesday evening, Lampkin crossed the finish line of his 40,075 kilometre "Walk in Support of SOYA," met by volunteers, supporters and a well-deserved slice of cake at the organization's Gore Street depot.
"I learned a lot of about myself," Lampkin said of the years-long effort. "It's been a journey of rediscovery."
Lampkin began his most recent walk in 2019 by mapping out specific "laps" in the city that were between 6.5 and 7.5 km long. He said about seven or eight pairs of shoes were sacrificed over the years to accomplish the feat.
He began the walk not long after moving to Sault Ste. Marie and coming across the SOYA depot and its founder Connie Raynor-Elliott.
"I walked past the building and saw the sign in the window that said: 'Unlock love, acceptance and hope,'" he said of that first encounter. "I came and met with Connie and she said if I wanted to come and share my story, I could."
That led to Lampkin becoming a volunteer and advocate for the organization.
"Now I have the chance to give back," he added.
Terry Fox was a particular inspiration for the walk, said Lampkin. When Fox was doing his Marathon of Hope in 1980-81, Lampkin was about 13 years old.
As a young man, Lampkin said he became addicted to drugs and resorted to theft. Lampkin said he threw out drugs years ago and atoned for his behaviour to begin a spiritual journey in an effort to give back.
The walk in support of SOYA is actually the second significant journey he has completed. His first was a walk in support of clean drinking water in the country.
Raynor-Elliott said Lampkin has been an incredible advocate for the organization and an inspiration to volunteers and the friends they serve at the depot.
"He is the most dedicated person I've ever met, to be honest with you," said Raynor-Elliott of Lampkin. "It doesn't matter about the weather, it doesn't matter how he's feeling, he puts in the steps."
Raynor-Elliott noted that Lampkin only counts the laps he completes for the walk, not any of the steps he puts in during the course of a normal day.
"He's just remarkable and he's given hope to so many," said Raynor-Elliott.
Lampkin said SOYA has been there to help him over the years and he is happy to give back.
"A lot of people are suffering from addiction. We've got new people coming to the country that don't have the basic necessities of life, right? Connie helps bring that to them three days a week," he said of SOYA's mission.
Lampkin said he is planning another walk in the near future and hopes he can keep up the pace.
"I'm not gonna push myself — as my t-shirt says, it's gonna be a never-ending walk," said Lampkin.