Photo: Contributed

Tyler Luscombe says his younger brother Braydon hasn't asked for any help his whole life, despite having had his right leg amputated at the age of five. 

Braydon, 26, didn't let the amputation, which was a result of flesh-eating disease, stop him from becoming a top-tier athlete, competing as a skier in the Paralympic Games in Russia and South Korea. 

Now Tyler, 28, is helping his brother out with a fundraising run, the proceeds of which will go towards equipment and other costs relating to Braydon's upcoming ski season. 

"They have to pay their team fees and equipment fees, and they don't get paid too too well, so we're doing whatever we can to help alleviate that for him," Tyler said. 

Tyler and two friends will be undertaking a 432 kilometre run from Penticton, where Tyler lives, to Braydon's home town of Victoria. They are looking for sponsors for each kilometre of the run, and they anticipate the trip will take about 10 days in total. 

"I was raised, like a lot of people, that you have to give a little to get a little, so this is kind of my little sacrifice to do to get something back from it," Tyler said. "I feel it's the best way to kind of raise some funds."

The team has stocked up on warm clothes to prepare for their run, which kicks off Nov. 2. 

"We will have a motor home behind us just warning people that we're running," Tyler said. "We're counting on doing 20-kilometre shifts at a time, so when the person is done running they can head back to the motor home and warm up, then get back out there when they're ready."

The team is hoping to raise a total of $10,000, $5,500 of which goes to team fees and $4,500 of which is for equipment. Tyler said this is the least he can do for his inspirational brother. 

"His attitude, since the day he lost his leg, the way my parents dealt with it, they treated him like a normal kid," Tyler said. "I think it set the path for him. I've never heard him complain. He never asks for special treatment, and he's never asked any of us for help in any way."

Tyler is also hoping the run will shine a spotlight on Canadian Paralympic sports, which he thinks the general public doesn't always appreciate. 

"I've been to two Paralympic games now, and even myself, who's watched my brother through this whole situation, I'm still blown away every time I watch these athletes do literally the exact same course that the able bodied athletes do int the Olympic games," he said. 

"Some people have the stigma of thinking it's not really real sport, but it's hands down just the same."

To pledge support for Tyler's run, click here.