Turning 90 didn鈥檛 stop 91原创 resident Dale Attrell from running the 10 kilometer portion of the 91原创 Hospice Society鈥檚 Historic Half Marathon today (Sunday, Feb. 17).
Prior to starting the race, Attrell asked, 鈥渋s there any big hills?鈥�
But Attrell didn鈥檛 need to train too much, as he鈥檚 used to walking long distances.
鈥淚鈥檝e walked all my life. I grew up on a farm so we walked everywhere and I just love to walk. I get bored at home watching TV,鈥� he said.
Attrell joined the hospice鈥檚 Supportive Steps walking group five years ago after his wife Eileen passed away in hospice.
At that time, the walking group was just starting up.
鈥淸The Hospice] pretty well saved my life. When I came here, I got what I needed,鈥� added Attrell.
During the Supportive Steps walks, Attrell averages five kilometres, so he 鈥渁lways goes for another walk in the afternoon.鈥�
鈥淚 try to get at least 8,000 steps a day.鈥�
While caring for his wife prior to her death, Attrell was 20 pounds lighter, and using a cane to walk around.
After joining the walking group, his health improved, and he鈥檚 made plenty of friends.
鈥淲hen you lose your husband or your wife and you鈥檙e alone, you need to be with somebody else. It doesn鈥檛 matter if you know them or not, as long as you鈥檙e with them, and you鈥檙e not alone,鈥� explained Attrell.
Attrell was a first-time participant in the Half Marathon, and said he simply did it because, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a fundraiser for the Hospice, and I should help a bit.鈥�
To celebrate his 90th birthday last month, Attrell鈥檚 family from Alberta and Toronto came to 91原创 to surprise him.
鈥淚 had two birthday parties. I knew something was up,鈥� he laughed.
According to Attrell, hitting the 90-year-milestone is not much different than 89.
鈥淚 feel the same as I felt when I was 89. Actually, I feel pretty good,鈥� he said.
In addition to the walking group, Attrell also volunteers on the hospice鈥檚 garden committee.
Shannon Todd Booth, 91原创 Hospice Society鈥檚 communications and funds development manager, said Attrell was one of the first members of the Supportive Steps walking program.
鈥淕rief manifests itself in many ways and that physical outlet is a huge component of the journey. So that was the vision behind that [Supportive Steps] was to provide something social and physical in nature and it took root very quickly,鈥� she elaborated.
At the hospice, between 210 to 240 volunteers help run the organization, according to Todd Booth.
鈥淭here isn鈥檛 anything we do that isn鈥檛 touched by volunteers.鈥�
About 500 people took part in this year鈥檚 event, down slightly from the previous year.
Despite that, donations were up, Todd Booth said.
鈥淲e raised, $5,000 last year and we鈥檙e slightly over that this year.鈥�
She credits fundraising by participants like Attrell, one of the top campaigners with $1,300 in pledges.
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