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Lester LeBlanc

Turning Every Step into Purpose – Lester’s Hiking the Cape Breton Highlands Journey.

Rooted in service and driven by resilience, Lester LeBlanc turned a personal goal into a remarkable journey of giving back through his Hiking the Cape Breton Highlands challenge in support of Soldier On.

From June 13 to 21, 2026, Lester completed a nine-day hike covering more than 265 kilometres of road and trail between Chéticamp and Ingonish, including every registered trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. A 35-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran, he set out to test his own limits along the Cabot Trail following recovery from hip replacement surgery, while also supporting fellow serving members and Veterans through Soldier On.

What began as a personal goal to hike all the trails in the national park quickly evolved into something more. Encouraged by friends, family, and fellow Veterans, including some living with operational stress injuries, Lester opened portions of his hike to others, inviting them to join him along the way and transforming the experience into a shared one.

Throughout the nine days, he steadily followed his plan, hiking between 20 and 40 kilometres per day and advancing his challenge step by step. Each stage of the journey reflected perseverance, connection, and a deep commitment to community, both on the trail and beyond.

Thanks to the generosity of those who followed along and supported his efforts, Lester’s hike raised [NUMBER: $6000] for Soldier On. His challenge is a powerful reminder that individual determination, when shared, can create a lasting impact for the broader military community.

We are grateful to Lester and everyone who supported his journey. Your encouragement helps ensure that ill and injured members and Veterans across Canada can continue to access programs that support recovery, connection, and growth.