Kenneth Howe is carrying a cross and walking over 200 kilometers with a purpose – raising money, awareness and hope for those battling cancer. It’s a daily journey of faith and determination and he says being tired is worth it. “I didn’t want it to be easy… kind of the point behind the cross too is at the end of the day, I can put this burden down, but the people fighting cancer, they don’t get the option to put that burden down,” says Howe. Howe started “Carry the Cross for Cancer” at the beginning of October, which is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a 31-day challenge that sees him walking 6.5 kilometers a day, bearing a nearly 80-pound cross on his shoulders. “At first, it was more difficult. But once you get into it for so long you really get the mojo of it,” says Howe. “It’s pretty good, honestly. I have people come up, or I love when the people beat their horns. I had a couple people just yesterday, people literally stopping their cars, leaving their door open to come up and say they respect what I’m doing.” The cause hits close to home for Howe. “The first family that comes to mind for me is my cousin Mikayla. She is battling Stage 3 breast cancer right now.” He refers to her as the best “Howe” he knows. Watching her battle cancer at age 33 is something he says is hard to see. She is the one he dedicates every step to while he carries the cross this month. “She’s a teacher. She goes to Bangladesh and places like that to teach. She’s incredibly smart, very beautiful and it really hurts the soul that she’s going through this.” Howe says God gives him the strength to walk every day, but it’s also the support from his family and friends that keep him going. Makayla Williams is a friend of Howe’s, and she helped build the cross. She’s been by his side since the start of his journey. “I’m out there as much as I can be walking with him. We started (on) Spring Garden. We went to the Halifax Commons and then we went to Sullivans Pond and now we’re finishing strong at Citadel Hill,” says Williams. Howe’s goal is to raise enough funds to support five families, his cousin being one. He is calling on the public to help give him the names of other families needing support. “No one has to get too personal with me or anything,” says Howe. “Feel free to reach out, send me a DM on Facebook.” The walk wraps up on Saturday and Howe is inviting people to join in for the last day. The goal is to raise $10,000 and he still needs help to achieve that. “I say to him every day, ‘You have not missed a day. You haven’t skipped a beat. You just keep going and you’re carrying that cross and you’re committed. And God is proud of you. And I’m proud of you. And you’re really making a difference in this world,’” says Williams. The walk is something Howe and Williams hope to do annually. Next year, Kenneth says he’s looking to get an even bigger cross. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
