An impressive young woman stopped in at the Times-Advocate’s office last week.

As readers will notice on this week’s front page, Tana Silverland is riding her recumbent bicycle across Canada to raise money and awareness for SOS Children’s Villages, a charitable organization that helps orphans around the world, including Canada.

Silverland, born and raised in the UK, has been on the road for a mind-boggling 16 months ? traveling 10,000 kilometres ? and has another year to go before she’s finished pedaling her way across the nation.

Silverland isn’t merely cycling from one end of Canada to the other in a straight line ? she is also traveling north and south and will hit every province and territory except for Nunavut in an effort to visit as many communities as possible, getting the word out about her passion for SOS Children’s Villages and the importance of helping vulnerable children around the world.

By the time she finishes her cross-country trek, Silverland will have been cycling all over this country for nearly two and a half years, dedicating herself to the SOS cause. How many people can claim to make such a strong commitment to such a worthwhile cause, putting their professional and personal lives on hold at the same time?

And also consider the fact that Silverland is completing this voyage by herself. There’s no one riding beside her, there’s no van or car riding behind her to assist her ? she is all alone out there, just her and her bike. Just imagine doing that for nearly two and a half years.

On days when she’s not traveling, Silverland is on the computer doing the administration and public relations portion of the voyage. There’s also the never-ending job of trying to find kind strangers to take her in when she visits communities. Unfortunately, that task has become much harder since she arrived in Southwestern Ontario.

Silverland’s voyage across Canada ? and the reason for it ? is admirable and she is an example to the rest of us of how we can make a positive impact on the world.

Those interested in learning more about Silverland’s trip and/or making a donation can visit her blog at http://tanasilverland.wordpress.com/map