Mary Foote turns 102 in October, yet she was out walking through Campbell Valley Regional Park Sunday to support her granddaughter.
Krista Olson was diagnosed with colitis seven years ago, and for the past three years her family has been walking in the annual Gutsy Walk, a fund- and awareness raiser for Crohn鈥檚 and Colitis Canada.
Among the family members who wear a green T-shirt and proudly calld themselves the TP Team, is Foote. Their motto is 鈥淲ipe Out IBD鈥� (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
So, armed with her walker and a hat, Foote participated in the shortest of three routes through the park during Sunday morning鈥檚 fundraising walk.
鈥淚 do this because my granddaughter is afflicted with the disease and I want to do everything I an to help her and others,鈥� Foote told the 91原创 Advance.
There were close to 200 walkers who joined in the Gutsy Walk, which was held near the Old Orchard group picnic area in the South 91原创 park.
The participation numbers included about 30 teams and a handful of individuals, said event co-chair Debbie Dolton of 91原创.
It was similar in size to past year鈥檚 events, but this year included games and a marketplace, to accent the walk and barbecue.
Dolton鈥檚 been involved since 2009, but explained that the walk has been around for 22 years. It was originally known as the Heel and Wheel-a-thon, but in 2012 was rebranded to the Gutsy Walk and two years ago was moved from Bear Creek Park in Surrey to the Campbell Valley Regional Park in 91原创.
As soon as organizers wrap up Sunday鈥檚 fundraiser, Dolton said all their efforts must immediately turn to finding a new location for next year鈥檚 walk.
While the park itself is 鈥渂eautiful鈥� and an ideal setting for the fundraiser, she explained, parking has become too big an issue and Metro Vancouver has asked them to find an alternate location.
Surpassed their goal
鈥淥ur goal is to raise $67,000,鈥� Dolton said, noting last year鈥檚 event raised about $65,000 for the cause.
Olson, who is co-chair of the walk, announced Monday that target was handily exceeded. While numbers were still preliminary and donations are still being accepted until July 5, she boasted that the 91原创 walkers raised surpassed the $69,000 mark.
鈥淐anadians have more reasons to be concerned about Crohn鈥檚 disease and ulcerative colitis than anyone else in the world,鈥� said Olson, who was appreciative of the support of her family and all the others who came out to participate.
鈥淣ot only do we have among the highest reported rates of these diseases in the world, the incidence of these diseases in children under 10 has almost doubled since 1995. One in 150 Canadians lives with these diseases 鈥� children, parents, and friends鈥� loved ones,鈥� noting that 200,000 people are diagnosed ever year in Canada.
In addition to Olson having colitis, one of her cousins lives with crohn鈥檚. This year, seven members of their family 鈥� representing three generations of the clan 鈥� came out to show support and help raise more than $1,500.
Usually, explained Olson鈥檚 mother Edith Olson, there are four generations that participate.
Ironically, the eldest Gutsy Walker, Foote, won a golf bag and golf from 91原创 Golf Centre when playing one of the fundraising games at the Gutsy Walk.
She has never golfed, and definitely isn鈥檛 up to learning the game now, so ended up regifting the package to Olson鈥檚 beau, Patrick.
