Evan Dunfee cansa国际传媒檛 imagine his life without race walking.

So the 28-year-old from Richmond, B.C., has spent the past 25 days walking in hopes to help other kids realize the transformative power of sport.

Dunfee, who was fourth in the 50-kilometre race walk at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has walked 25 kilometres each day for the past 25 days to raise money for KidSportBC, an organization that provides financial assistance for childrensa国际传媒檚 sports registration fees and equipment.

sa国际传媒淭heir mission is so simple, get more kids registered in sport, break down that financial barrier that prevents some families from putting their kids in sport, and take that pressure off them,sa国际传媒� Dunfee said. sa国际传媒滸rowing up and being transformed by sport, I think about the person I would be if I hadnsa国际传媒檛 had sport. I donsa国际传媒檛 know where Isa国际传媒檇 be but Isa国际传媒檇 be much worse off.

sa国际传媒淚 owe so much of who I am to the experiences Isa国际传媒檝e had through sport, and the idea that opportunity doesnsa国际传媒檛 exist for kids eats me up a little bit.sa国际传媒�

The fundraiser was also in celebration of KidSportsa国际传媒檚 25th anniversary. Hesa国际传媒檚 raised over $8,000 sa国际传媒� enough to fund 20 kids in sports. Hesa国际传媒檚 also doing 25 school presentations, most of them next month, and hopes that will push him over his goal of raising $25,000.

sa国际传媒淢y big message with the school talks is: find something you love, find something yousa国际传媒檙e passionate about, and then use it help others,sa国际传媒� he said.

Dunfee has completed most of the walks around Vancouversa国际传媒檚 Lower Mainland. Local runners have joined him for some. His dad accompanied him on a bike for one. For Fridaysa国际传媒檚 finale, he was meeting retired teammate Inaki Gomez for the final 10K which would take the two to Gomezsa国际传媒檚 downtown Vancouver law office.

sa国际传媒淕lad we get the opportunity to finish it up together,sa国际传媒� he said.

Dunfee has averaged two hours two minutes over 25 kilometres, which is quicker than hesa国际传媒檇 expected. An added benefit: he feels stronger for having completed the walks.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e definitely felt like Isa国际传媒檝e gotten a lot fitter, despite not actively doing this as a fitness thing, I havensa国际传媒檛 really been treating this like training, Isa国际传媒檝e been treating it more like exercise,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淏ut I definitely feel fitter and stronger than I did three weeks ago.sa国际传媒�

Dunfeesa国际传媒檚 fourth place finish was one of Canadasa国际传媒檚 biggest stories in Rio. He was upgraded to bronze after being jostled by Hirooki Arai of Japan. Arai appealed, bumping Dunfee to fourth, and the Canadian opted not to file a counter-appeal, saying in a statement: sa国际传媒淚 will never allow myself to be defined by the accolades I receive, rather the integrity I carry through life.sa国际传媒�

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press

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