Trek to raise money, awareness for cystic fibrosis
Bernie Martin is walking for Hope on May 28.
So are Ryan Parks, Ben Strasser, Jim Hladish and Thor Haelssig, Abbey-Layne Ball, Mary Palka, Rachel Levac, Trish Coverdale and Lisa Lee.
They’re planning to walk from Brantford to Port Dover and back in 24-hours in support of Hope Jennions, a seven-year-old Brantford girl who lives with cystic fibrosis. Hope is Ball’s daughter and Palka’s niece.
“We’ve been training for this, but it is a daunting challenge,” Bernie Martin, of All Day Breakfast – the creative agency, said. “We’re so thankful for the support of friends and family who have donated, have put up with us taking off for hours on end to train and for the moral support they’ve offered along the way.”
The walkers will start their journey from the All Day Breakfast studio in West Brant at 6 am and make their way to Port Dover. Their route includes the trail system through Brantford, Brant and Norfolk counties.
They will finish their trek by 6 am May 29.
“It’s our mission, as local business owners, to give back and to build a strong community around us,” Hladish, of Altitude Coffee Roasters, said. “We do many different fund-raising events throughout the year but CF is a special event for us as it directly affects the child of a dear friend of ours.”
May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month and Ball is grateful for the support her daughter has received from the group and the broader community.
“This is the second year for the walk and it’s really nice to have friends and see people from the local business community step up to help those with CF,” Ball said.
Last year’s walk raised $8,000 and Ball is hoping this year’s effort, combined with a wine draw, will raise $12,000 to $13,000 for cystic fibrosis research.
In addition to raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the walk aims to raise awareness of the disease.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and adults. There is no cure but funding for research and groundbreaking medications have helped to dramatically improve the lives of those with CF.
In 1950, the median survival age for those born with CF was just two years. Today, it’s more than 50 years of age.
To support the walk and learn more about the wine draw visit www.roadtothecure.ca.
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