June 8, 2015
1708
Almost 70 participants raised close to $35,000 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, at the Grey-Bruce Gutsy Walk, held Sunday morning at the Walkerton District Community School track.
The 10-member team, "It's All Gone To Shitz," of Kincardine and Ripley, was the top fund-raiser with more than $10,000. Ironically, that was the goal for the entire Grey-Bruce area.
The team, ranging in age from one to 72, included Ron and Gail Lotton and their daughters, Emily Lotton (who suffers from ulcerative colitis), Kendra VanHardeveld, and Kathleen Ackert and her one-year-old daughter, Erin; Harold Maurer, Patty Crow, Bev Fry, Kathy Drennan, and Alyssa Kueneman.
Team "Gutsy Gees," hails from Kincardine and Port Elgin, with the five-member team including Rob and Lois Blake of Kincardine, and their daughter, Lindsay, husband, Kevin Gee, and three-year-old son, Jack, of Port Elgin.
Participants gathered at 9:30 a.m. for registration and it was a perfect day - sunny and breezy without being too hot.
Joe Rys of Walkerton welcomed everyone to the fight against Crohn's and Colitis which have such a huge impact, particularly on young people across Canada. He noted that besides the five-kilometre walk - which was 13 laps of the track - the event featured a raffle prize table, and a barbecue.
Melissa Clubbe of Walkerton, chairperson of the Grey-Bruce Gutsy Walk, thanked everyone for taking part and said this is the 20th year for the event across Canada, but only the third year in this area.
The first Grey-Bruce walk was in Owen Sound in 2013, she said. There were 12 people walking, mostly her family and friends, and they raised $1,265.
Last year, in Owen Sound, there were 50 walkers and they raised $9,400. This year, in Walkerton, she expected that number to more than double, and she was right, with 69 registered walkers raising $34,749.04.
However, this total continues to climb, as organizers received an additional $5,000 overnight on-line. People can donate until July 5 at gutsywalk.ca.
"I'm walking today for the members of my family who suffer from Crohn's and Colitis," said Clubbe. "We have to make it stop, for life, for those we love."
Honourary Grey-Bruce Gutsy Walk chairperson Emily Lotton addressed the crowd, thanking her family and friends and their team, "It's All Gone to Shitz," who raised $10,000 for the cause.
Along with the local event, close to 18,000 Canadians in 60 communities walked together to raise more than $3-million. All funds raised at the Gutsy Walk will count toward the "Crohn’s and Colitis – Make it stop. For life." campaign to raise $100-million by 2020. The money helps transform the lives of Canadians with these diseases by fuelling research, patient programs, awareness and advocacy.
Top fund-raisers at the Grey-Bruce Gutsy Walk were:
For more about the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, click here.
Almost 70 participants join in the Grey-Bruce Gutsy Walk, Sunday morning at the Walkerton District Community School track
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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