'A Canadian way to fight back': Man with multiple sclerosis to portage from Toronto to Montreal for MS research

A Montreal man diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is set to portage 700 kilometres from Toronto to Montreal in order to raise money for MS research.

At the break of dawn Thursday, Félix Jasmin and his team are set to embark on Le Grand Portage, an 18-day canoe-camping expedition from Toronto to Montreal via Ottawa.

"I thought that portaging a canoe is quite a Canadian way to fight back at a disease, and it hasn't been done yet, not that I know of," Jasmin told CTV's Your Morning on Monday.

Money raised from the trip will benefit the MS research projects led by Dr. Jack Antel of McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital​ and Dr. Alexandre Prat of the University of Montreal's Health Centre. Antel and Prat are planning on using the funds to build partnerships with Toronto institutions, such as the BARLO MS Centre at the Toronto-area St. Michael's Hospital.

Last year, the Le Grand Portage was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Jasmin was still able to raise $370,000.