On a trip to northern Uganda, Doug Currie saw thousands of "night commuters." Every evening, these children walk from their rural homes to Gulu town to sleep. This is how they protect themselves from the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group that has abducted 20,000 children from their beds since 1987 and forced them into their ranks.

Last May, the Beford, Nova Scotia, resident walked from dusk until dawn to raise money and awareness for the children's plight. Reporter Lis van Berkel kept pace.

May 28, 5:59 p.m.
At a running track in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Doug Currie's 12-hour walk begins. Six others have collected pledges for Uganda's children and join him.

Doug smiles broadly after completing his first lap and transfers a playing card from one windbreaker pocket to the other. This system will help him count the number of times he walks around the track: after transferring 48 cards, Doug will have logged 12 miles (19.3 kilometres)-about a third of his 34-mile goal.

7 p.m.
An hour of walking reminds Doug that the children of northern Uganda walk great distances to get to a safe place at night. "They don't know anything but this nightly walk to safety. Death and fear are never far from them."

7:15 p.m.
Doug takes his first break in a tent set up beside the track by his brother, David. As he rests, the 46-year-old reminisces about his Uganda trip and the many former child soldiers he met, including one boy whose skull was permanently deformed from carrying heavy loads on his head for the LRA.

9:15 p.m.
A woman who was inspired by a newspaper story about Doug emerges from the parking lot with a $20 donation. She asks how old the children are when they're abducted. David tells her they're as young as seven.

10:30 p.m.
Doug says some of his family members didn't understand why he was raising money for the night commuters, especially since he's shy and doesn't like publicity. He explains that this walk isn't about him, it's about the children of Uganda-and what's happening to them is too serious to ignore.

May 29, 1 a.m.
The air has turned crisp so Doug changes into a warmer jacket. Determined to make up some ground he lost around midnight owing to his blisters and a cramp, he walks four brisk laps in 15 minutes.

2 a.m.
"This is a lot harder than I thought it would be," Doug sighs, changing into new socks. "This is the point where you start to tell yourself, '30 miles would be alright.'"

2:15 a.m.
Doug dreams about making next year's walk a national event, with participants in Toronto and Vancouver.

4 a.m.
Doug hits the 30-mile mark. He says fresh air and adrenalin are keeping him alert, but his legs are very tired.

4:45 a.m.
Hobbling now, Doug says: "The night-walkers don't have the option of stopping, so why should I?"

5:59 a.m.
Doug takes a full 10 minutes to walk the last lap.

Five of his six co-walkers have stuck with him to the end. Although their finish line is just an extension cord powering the lamp and a digital clock, it feels official, even monumental.

With the support of many people he hardly knows, Doug has raised nearly $7,500 and found child sponsors for eight Ugandan children.