A group of five friends is embarking on a unique journey to raise funds for a local food bank. Hayden Chan, Sebastian Karall, Sophia Franc, Katie Wang, and Michaela Purcell, collectively known as Meet The Walkers, plan to walk 29 hours to Niagara Falls if they reach their fundraising goal of $10,000. The friends, all in their early 20s, have gained popularity online for their walking vlogs, which often feature long and unconventional routes. They have previously walked the entire lengths of Toronto's TTC Line 1 and Line 2, showcasing their camaraderie and sense of humor along the way. "Originally, we were just making fun little videos," Wang said. "We thought it would be a good opportunity to redirect that focus to a good cause." To support their charitable efforts, they launched the Donate to Detour campaign. The distance they walk will depend on the amount of donations received. If they raise $5,000, they will walk to Hamilton, which takes about 16 hours. If they reach $8,000, they will walk to St. Catharines, a journey of 25 hours. Chan noted, "We were getting lots of attention for doing funny walks, and all of us did think, ‘What can we do with this attention?’" The group was introduced to the Fort York Food Bank through a mutual friend. They were motivated to help after learning that more than one in ten residents in Toronto rely on food banks. A recent report indicated that over 4.1 million visits to food banks occurred in 2025, following a state of emergency regarding food insecurity in the city. The Walkers have already raised over $3,000, allowing them to plan their first walk to Oakville this winter. Franc expressed their determination, saying, "We really want to walk to Niagara Falls, so we’re just going to keep it up." Julie LeJeune, executive director of the Fort York Food Bank, highlighted the growing need for food assistance. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the food bank served about 1,000 people weekly. In 2025, that number has surged to over 6,700. "Everybody in Toronto could recognize themselves in our line," LeJeune said. "It’s really hard to make ends meet in the city right now, and that’s why our numbers are so high." LeJeune praised the friends for their initiative, stating, "They’re really just a group of kids that want to walk. I find that inspiring to have this generation really using their time and energy to do something good for their community." In addition to their current campaign, the Walkers plan to participate in the Coldest Night of the Year walk, an annual event that raises funds for charities addressing hunger and homelessness. They have previously organized community walks to support the food bank. Karall emphasized the importance of community engagement, saying, "That’s what our influence is: to get people out and doing similar things like walking but also engaging with their communities." Looking ahead, the group has even bigger aspirations. They view their current fundraising efforts as a practice run for a future challenge: walking across Canada to raise money for various charities from St. John’s to Victoria. "It’s not a dream," Karall said. "It’s happening."