By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
By the time Wendell Thomson and fellow walkers arrived back in Pike Bay on 10 September, 2024, Wendell’s Walk had raised over $30,000 for the Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation, with more donations still coming in. A week later, he had surpassed the donations from last year’s Walk, currently totalling over $36,000. One hundred percent of the funds from the 2024 Walk will go towards the installation of a barrier free shower for patients at the Lion’s Head Hospital.
This is Thomson’s second 60 km walk for Health Care. Last year he walked from Tobermory to Pike Bay and raised approximately $31,000. This year he and his fellow supporters walked from Pike Bay to Sauble Beach on Day 1 and back to Pike Bay on Day 2, where he was greeted by over 30 persons waiting to welcome him back to his home community.
The funds raised last year were used to upgrade and expand the nurse call system at the Lion’s Head Hospital. April Patry, Executive Director of Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation, says all the upgrades were completed by Spring 2024. Patry attributes Thomson for kicking off the fundraising campaign to update the nurse call system. While the funds raised by Wendell’s Walk was directed to Lion’s Head, the Hospitals Foundation also fundraised to fully cover the cost for upgrades to the nurse call system in both Lion’s Head and Wiarton Hospitals.
On 9 September 2024, Day 1 of Wendell’s Walk, Thomson and two companion walkers, Kathy Nixon Speechley and Fallah Alrubeyi, started from Pike Bay and headed to Sauble Beach. Both Speechley and Alrubeyi joined Thomson on the 2023 Walk and returned to accompany him for the 2024 Walk. Speechley and Thomson have been friends since elementary school and South Bruce Peninsula resident Fallah Alrubeyi has joined Thomson on many local walks. This year Speechley joined Thomson to train for the event, with Thomson encouraging her to “just do a little more each time.”
Over the two days, supporters joined Wendell’s Walk for various segments of the journey. Patry and friends Roni Brousse and Maureen McColeman joined him on Day 1. Rotarian Anne James, Speechley’s sister Trudy Fahie and McColeman walked the final stretch back to Pike Bay on Day 2.
Thomson’s siblings Vicki and Frank, along with Nellie (dog) provided ground support along the way, dispensing loving care, water, refreshments and bandages.
The sponsor for Wendell’s Walk was Lonnie Bray of Bluewater RV who provided a deluxe support vehicle, which was very handy on Day 1 as the walkers had to sit out a major storm system between Red Bay and Oliphant. Barely missing the hail, and fulfilling the slogan coined for the event “Rain or Snow, Wendell will Show”!
Kevin Walsh, Chair of the Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation, describes the Walk as “absolutely wonderful” and states “Wendell gives back to the community more than most people we know. We thank him so much.”
Donations to ‘Wendell’s Walk for Health Care’ will continue to be accepted until the end of 2024, and can be made on-line (www.bphfoundation.com), via e-transfer (to admin@bphfoundation.com), by telephone (519) 534-5856, or by regular mail (to Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation, 369 Mary Street, Wiarton, Ontario, N0H 2T0). Please include your full mailing address with your donation to receive a charitable donation receipt.
