Throngs of supporters turned out this morning to cheer on Ramesh Ferris as he made a ceremonial journey from his childhood home in Riverdale, to the Yukon government administration building.

He then went to Whitehorse International Airport, where he will fly to Victoria to begin his cross-country Cycle to Walk tour.

Beginning Saturday, the 28-year-old will hand-cycle from Victoria to Cape Spear, NL, in an effort to raise funds and awareness for polio, a disease Ferris contracted as a child in India.

Ferris began the ceremonial launch to his 7,200-kilometre trek at 41 Firth Rd., where he grew up.

He continued on to Grey Mountain Primary School, where he was met by hundreds of onlookers, many of them schoolchildren.

"Together, we are going to send a message to the rest of Canada that we can get rid of polio forever. We will tell Canada that we will help people with braces and crutches," Ferris told the crowd.

Many of the schoolchildren carried placards and cheered "Go Ferris! Go Ferris!"

Ferris' Grade 1 teacher was present at the ceremony and remembered Ferris as being "really sweet" back when she taught him at Grey Mountain Primary.

"I think it's wonderful. I'm impressed with all the training he's done."

Ferris continued down Lewes Boulevard with an entourage that included RCMP escorts and his own very distinctive vehicle driven by his sister, Rani Ferris.

"I'm out here to support my brother. I'm very proud of him. He's worked very hard," Rani said while driving.

Rani said she and her brother, who were both adopted by a Canadian family as infants, were recently in India to visit their birthplace.

Rani said she couldn't believe the number of children in India who continue to suffer from polio.

"So many kids are affected by polio. I'm hoping (the Cycle to Walk tour) will speak to our country."

All 400 students at Christ the King Elementary School lined up along Lewes Boulevard to cheer Ferris on.

"They're excited and they wish him well," said Colleen Bunn, a substitute teacher at the school.

A host of government ministers were at the government building to meet Ferris. They included Premier Dennis Fentie, Justice Minister Marian Horne,Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor, Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers, and Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon.

Members of the Midnight Sun Pipe Band performed a rousing tune on drums and bagpipes as Ferris entered the building.

Doug Phillips, the Administrator of the Yukon, made an appearance on behalf of Yukon Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber, who was unable to attend.

Phillips said the remarkable turnout for the ceremonial launch "reinforces my faith in Yukoners.

"When we do these things for people, we really do it right."

Phillips said the Cycle to Walk campaign "has a personal touch for me" because his brother was afflicted by polio during the 1950s polio epidemic.

"I know this has been a dream of yours forever," Phillips told Ferris.

"Like all national events, it starts with the dream of one person," said Mayor Bev Buckway.

"This is a very historic day indeed for Whitehorse. We wish you a safe journey."

Buckway said Ferris' trek is "the most geographically challenging effort to eradicate polio we will see in our lifetimes."

"My colleagues and I are with you every step of the way.

I will most certainly see you when you finish in Cape Spear, Labrador," said Alex Furlong, president of the Yukon Federation of Labour, which has made a donation to the odyssey.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Ferris addressed the crowd assembled in the main lobby of the government building.

"When we eradicate polio, I hope every Yukoner can feel a part of that," he said.

"You're sending a strong message in the Yukon and throughout the wonderful land we call Canada."

Ferris said he contracted polio 25 years after Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for the disease.

Even now, 53 years after the vaccine was developed, polio is still widespread in many countries.

"How can we expect to rid the world of other diseases if we've had a prevention (for polio) for this long?" Ferris said.

"It's an honour to share the road with so many people and children," Ferris said in an interview after the ceremony.

"It's heartfelt to be able to share this day with my community."

Ferris said he has been training for three years, during which time he has ridden 3,000 kilometres by hand-cycle, and has swum the equivalent of 10,000 lengths in an Olympic-sized pool.

"This campaign is about children, and the children of the future," he said.

"In 10 years, they're going to talk about Terry Fox, Rick Hanson, and Yukoner Ramesh Ferris," said Valerie Royle, vice-president of Cycle to Walk.

The crowd of supporters gave a standing ovation at the conclusion of the presentation.

Ferris has received additional support from government officials, several of whom expressed their support for Ferris' campaign in the legislative assembly yesterday.

"The Yukon government, through the Department of Health and Social Services, has contributed $65,000 to this campaign," said Kenyon

"I ask this assembly to help me in wishing Ramesh all the best on his journey and to welcome him to the House today."

"We're all with you and you are really an inspiration for many of us," said NDP Leader Todd Hardy.

"On behalf of the official Opposition, (I) would like to lend my voice to the recognition and support of the incredible task that Ramesh Ferris has undertaken on behalf of children all over the world," said Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell.

"I have already told Ramesh that he is my hero. He will soon be a Canadian hero and indeed an international hero for what he is undertaking on behalf of children," Mitchell continued.

"We thank you, Ramesh, and we wish you Godspeed."

Ferris' cross-country trek will continue through to October.