EMILY HSUEH
PONTIAC Sept. 3, 2020
After ten days of walking, Russell Mackay, affectionately known as Papa, reached the CHEO campus in Ottawa on Sept. 3. Papa, his family and his supporters, called the “Papa-razzi” walked from his home in Beachburg all the way to CHEO for Papa Walks 4 Kids from Aug. 24 – Sept. 3 to raise money for the foundation.
“I would sum it up as surreal,” said Papa’s daughter Crystal Mackay, who accompanied him for . . .
the whole journey. “It was a crazy idea and then to raise $25,000. He put the first $5,000 in and to raise $25,000, we thought, was a pretty great goal which we smashed.”
At the end of his walk, Papa and his fans celebrated the accomplishment with a cheque for $105,200, far exceeding the original goal.
“It’s like we had a big community of followers that kept growing, especially through social media and then through the help of media outlets,” said Crystal. “Just people cheering him on and waiting for him. People would message us saying, ‘Where are you going to be today? We’ll come find you,’ and waiting to give him donations and cheer him on was really great.”
Papa grew up in the Pontiac in Charteris, and so receiving support from the region nearly everyday was a wonderful way to lift his spirits, Crystal explained.
“He hasn’t lived there in a long time, but it’s still home to him,” she said. “He grew up on a farm outside of Shawville and so these are people who have been his friends or his family’s friends for many years, so definitely a real warm spot for all the support from the Pontiac area.”
While Papa’s walk is complete, donations are still being accepted until the end of September. Anyone interested in helping Papa’s cause can donate at cheofoundation.donordrive.com/campaign/PapaWalks4Kids.
