Over 32 participants of the Gaetane Harvey Memorial Walk wore out the tread out on their sneakers this weekend. The two-day 53 km walk raised over $25,451.52 in support of cancer care at Belleville General Hospital. This is their highest fundraising total to date.
Walk organizer Lisa McAuley started the event in 2015 after losing her mother to cancer at the age of fifty-three – the number of kilometres participants walk in memory of family and friends affected by cancer.
McAuley organized a photo board so everyone can post photos of loved ones. She says “The walkers that join, all share their stories of who they’re walking for and why they’re walking. It makes it a little more personal with the participant.”
Calling it “the little walk with the big heart” McAuley hopes this two day event empowers others to turn their grief, sadness or helplessness into something beautiful and meaningful.