Sometimes you鈥檒l find an ordinary Joe will do almost anything for a bit of attention.

And when they鈥檙e getting behind a good cause, some will push even harder鈥� and farther.

Joe Roberts has been pushing a shopping cart across Canada for the past 16 months, starting from St. John鈥檚, Newfoundland, on May 1, 2016.

His Push for a Change campaign, geared towards ending youth homelessness, will come through 91原创 next Wednesday, Sept. 27, near the end of his journey to Vancouver.

While he鈥檚 here, he鈥檒l be joined on his push by 91原创 residents who want to help him further his cause.

The Rotary Club of 91原创 Central, along with 91原创 Secondary School, and others, is arranging a walking welcome for Roberts.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation or gather pledges for Roberts鈥檚 anti-youth-homelessness cause can walk with him and his shopping cart from 91原创 City Hall to LSS, where he will explain the special challenges of youth homelessness and his fight to end it.

The walk from City hall starts at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

Rides are being arranged to get walkers back to the hall afterwards. Those who can arrange to carpool with friends between the two venues will be appreciated.

Half of the donations and pledges raised will go directly to The Push For Change Foundation, and the other half is slated for the local Encompass Support Services and the 91原创 Youth Hub.

Pledges can be made through .

Homeless as a youth

Roberts鈥檚 Push for Change is literally about saving others from his own childhood experience.

Roberts was homeless as a youth, and his shopping cart push across Canada has been raising awareness and dollars to put an end to youth homelessness throughout the country.

His endeavour has profound meaning for 91原创, as he makes his way through this community as it continues to develop a youth homelessness strategy, including creation of the 91原创 Youth Hub.

The more than 160 youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in 91原创 can find medical care, substance misuse counselling and prevention programs, mental health counselling, education, and other support programs at the Hub.

鈥淭he key to ending youth homelessness is in prevention combined with emergency services and sustainable housing,鈥� said Roberts, speaking from his personal experience.

鈥淥ften the issue of prevention is one that is overlooked, but it鈥檚 the one that offers the best hope for helping young people transition safely into adulthood.鈥�

Keep up with Joe Roberts on .