Attempting to break the world record, Dave Proctor sprinted through Swift Current yesterday in his pursuit to make across Canada in 66 days.

Proctor is from Okotoks, Alta. and recently decided to team up with the Rare Disease Foundation to raise money and awareness for rare diseases, all while trying to break a 27-year-old record.

Proctor is a world record runner and is looking for his second running record, this time going for the fastest run across Canada.

Al Howie holds the current record at 72 days, but Proctor is on track to smash the record by nearly a week if he is able to stick to his daily average of about 108 kilometres.

Proctor said he still finds ways to improve how he runs and that it's a considerable undertaking no matter how easy he makes it look.

"Every single day there's a big struggle that I need to get through, and I somehow do," he said.

Proctor first got involved with the charity about two years ago when his son was diagnosed with recA, a rare disease that is only known to affect five other people in the world.

Proctors parents, Nancy and Randy, are also helping to support their son by accompanying him all the way to the east coast, speaking at meet and greets with him along the way.

"Now we know that one in twelve people in Canada have a rare disease, which is amazing and nobody knows that, so we hope to bring awareness that there is rare out there," Nancy said. "It's a great cause and I sure hope that people dive in [to help]," added Randy.

Staples is one of the primary sponsors of the run, hosting meet and greets at their outlets across Canada where you can meet Proctor and his parents, as well as buy merchandise for the run and charity.

Amanda Lea, the general manager at the Swift Current Staples, said she knows Proctor personally.

"He's a pretty amazing guy," Lea said. "He's a humble guy, he's just a nice guy all the way around, and for him to do this to raise money and raise awareness, [for his] his nine-year-old son."

Proctor has already seen about 200 runners join him in the 16 days he has been running so far and is always open to the idea of having people join him on the trek.