BONAVISTA, N.L. — Even for a community, walking 24,000 kilometres in just a few months seems like a daunting task.
Not for Bonavista, however, as residents are already well on their way to accomplishing the goal set by Tip-A-Vista Wellness Foundation.
Eliza Swyers, chair of Tip-A-Vista, told walkers assembled for the official launch of the campaign they already had about 100 people signed up to log the kilometres they walk over the next few months. The participants have actually contributed about 5,800 km already.
The ultimate goal is to collectively walk 24,000 km, or the distance from the Atlantic Ocean, across Canada to the Pacific Ocean and north up to the Arctic Ocean.
At the June 11 launch event, a large group of walkers met at Cape Bonavista and walked to the Bonavista Lions Club.
The event also marked the 91st birthday of Dr. Hilda Tremblett, an inspiration and figurehead for the project.
She led the walk proudly alongside Bonavista’s Joshua Chard, who turned 24 the next day.
In last year’s community walk, Chard tracked about 550 km by himself – the equivalent of walking to Deer Lake.
He told The Packet he walks for about an hour every day.
“It gets me going,” Chard explained. “It’s good exercise.”
He says it’s also motivating for him. Now, he wants to beat his total from last year. Chard also has took up biking this summer.
Chard called the plan to cover 24,000 km an impressive goal.
“Eliza has a lot of initiative. I think we can pull it off!”
Swyers told those attending she only plans to grow the challenge in positive ways. It’s all about promoting healthy lifestyle.
“When you’re challenged to do something and you have a goal … I don’t think it’s always enough to reach our goals,” she said. “When we join together, we will surpass our goals!”
This year’s initiative concludes with a Wellness Walkers group participating in the Bonavista Relay For Life at Cabot Stadium on Sept. 7.
And at the rate they’re going, they’re bound to walk halfway across the world on their way.
Twitter: @jejparsons
