CALEB NICKERSON
BEACHBURG Aug. 24, 2020
A Beachburg man that grew up in the Pontiac began his journey of more than 100 km on Monday morning.
Russell Mackay, 82, is walking to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Accompanied by family, friends and well-wishers from the community, he set off outside the . . .
Beachburg Public School just after 8 a.m. on Aug. 24, after a short ceremony.
In addition to the immense distance of the trip, Mackay is also legally blind and diabetic. He will be accompanied on his journey by his two daughters, Sherrie and Crystal, one of whom will walk beside him while the other drives the RV they will be sleeping in.
Mackay said that he got the idea because he had a soft spot for the sick children in the facility, after receiving treatment for his vision at a facility adjacent to CHEO.
““I really feel for those kids,” he told THE EQUITY earlier this month. “I used to go through there, see them crying. A feeling came over me … I decided that I was going to do something for them and walk.”
His journey will take him down on the back roads through Arnprior, Carp and eventually onto CHEO’s campus in Ottawa on Sept. 4, though he will be meeting their representatives outdoors due to COVID-19 restrictions.
His goal for the fundraiser is $25,000, but Crystal announced just before the walk commenced that they had already raised $21,000 towards their goal. She posted on social media the following day that they had hit $29,000.
Donations can be made online at: cheofoundation.donordrive.com/campaign/PapaWalks4Kids. Readers can mail cheques to the CHEO Foundation with “Papa Walks 4 Kids” in the subject line to CHEO, 415 Smyth Road, Ottawa ON K1H 8M8. Follow Mackay’s journey on the PapaWalks4Kids Facebook page.
