Shane Flamand is B次元官网网址楳oving MountainsB次元官网网址� for the second time this November, in memory of his nephew Zack Downey, and to support two families affected by cancer.
He and a group of hikers are gathering supporters and donations before they dig their heels in and hike the three tallest mountains in Victoria, starting with Mount Finlayson, then Jocelyn Hill and Mt. Work.
The eight-hour fundraising hike began last year as a way for Flamand to raise money to help his sister and her family as Zack underwent treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Zack, who badly wanted to hike with his uncle this year, sadly passed away in May. B次元官网网址淭his is fully in memory of him,B次元官网网址� Flamand says. B次元官网网址�(Zack) had full hopes of doing it this year when he was better.B次元官网网址�
The group is hoping to at least match last yearB次元官网网址檚 total of $7,000 raised.
This time the money will go toward two young girls: Alissa McCrea and Emma Smith.
AlissaB次元官网网址檚 mother, Juanita McCrea was an employee of ThriftyB次元官网网址檚 on the mainland and a single mother when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of soft-tissue cancer in August. The disease spread rapidly and McCrea passed away on Oct. 22, leaving her six-year-old daughter in the care of her brother on Vancouver Island.
Emma Smith was diagnosed with spinal cancer on Oct. 1, two years to the day after her oncologists found a brain tumour in 2012. The brain tumour was successfully treated and was gone by August 2013, but a case of meningitis that hospitalized the 11-year-old this summer led to tests that confirmed the cancer had reappeared in her spine. SheB次元官网网址檚 undergone a short course of radiation and is waiting to start chemotherapy.
B次元官网网址淭here are some big adjustments to be made, and once again the financial reality of not being able to work will put a huge strain on the family,B次元官网网址� says EmmaB次元官网网址檚 dad, Darrell Smith.
While a summertime hike might make more sense to some, FlamandB次元官网网址檚 happy to have B次元官网网址楳oving MountainsB次元官网网址� occur in late fall.
B次元官网网址淚t just seems fitting to do it at this time of year. The biggest thing is to be able to give (the families) a cheque within a month of Christmas.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 actually like to see some harsher conditions,B次元官网网址� he says of the hike.
B次元官网网址淭he tougher the challenge, the more rewarding itB次元官网网址檒l be. Just knowing what these kids are going through. TheyB次元官网网址檙e fighting an uphill battle all the time.B次元官网网址�
Everyone is welcome to come along, no registration required. There will plenty of experienced hikers in the group, so the biggest requirement is endurance, says Flamand.
B次元官网网址淢t. Finlayson is difficult, but we get that done first. As long as theyB次元官网网址檙e physically fit enough that theyB次元官网网址檙e comfortable doing Finlayson, theyB次元官网网址檒l be fine the rest of the way.B次元官网网址�
The funds raised will be split between the two families to help alleviate the financial burden of travel, treatment costs and lost work, and all of it done in memory of Zack, Flamand says.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important that his nameB次元官网网址檚 attached when we help other families. We want to make sure he leaves a legacy.B次元官网网址�
The hikers are meeting at Willway elementary, 2939 Mt. Wells Dr. in Langford, at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Donations can be made at any TD Canada Trust, to the account number 99195215472, under the name Moving Mountains.
For more information, call Flamand at 250-391-4097 or visit bcmovingmountains.wordpress.com.
acowan@goldstreamgazette.com
