Huron Expositor, 2009-04-22, Page 244
Pogo 24 The Huron Expositor • April 22, 2009
News«
Local Lions Clubs welcome woman walking for dialysis
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Sherry Welsh is walking more than 600 kilometres to raise money for Camp Dorset
Dan Schwab
For the second year in a row, Sher-
ry Welsh is walking more than 600
kilometres from Port Rowan to To-
bermory, Ont., to raise money for Li-
ons Camp Dorset, a resort for people
on kidney dialysis.
Welsh, a Lions Club president in
South Brant County, has been.meet-
ing with Lions Club members along
the way since her journey began
April 4.
She passed through Dublin on
April 15, where she was met on the
side of Perth Road 180 .by' Dublin
Lions Club president Bruce Bettles,
who presented her with a cheque for
$250 on behalf of the club.
So far, she's raised more than
$14,500, from donations and by col-
lecting bottles in ditches along road-
sides that she exchanges for cash at
Beer Stores along the way to help
pay for gas and lodging.
Last year, her goal on the month-
long walk was to raise between
$2,500-$4,000.
Before she reached her destina-
tion, she had collected $45,000.
This year, she's aiming to raise the
same amount or more.
Welsh's inspiration for the walk
comes from her sister Karen, who
died nine years ago from kidney
failure, at the age of 34.
During the long stretches of time
spent on the roadsides of Ontario,
walking an average of 20 kilometres
a day, Welsh says she often thinks
about her sister.
"Anytime I get an ache or pain I
think of Karen because she went
through a lot," Welsh says.
Throughout Karen's life, she re-
ceived three kidney transplants and
another 13 operations.
When Welsh became a Lions Club
member, she found out about Lions
Camp Dorset, a resort for Ontarians
on kidney di-
alysis and their
families. .„;, t=,
• The camp of-
fers visitors a
relaxing atmo-
sphere and has
a dialysis unit
onsite for guests
with kidney fail-
ure.
"It's the only
vacation people
on dialysis can
take," Welsh
says. "Other
`~ than that, they
• wouldn't be able
to go anywhere,
because dialysis
is three days a,
week and four
or five hours a
day."
Welsh says Li-
ons Camp Dor-
set's 14 cottages
are in desperate
need of repair.
The cottages
need to be re-
constructed, she
says, and carry
a cost of about
$20,000 each.
"They need
new founda-
tions, windows,
roofs, and there
is a crack under
the swimming
pool," she says.
"There is just a
lot of work that
needs to be done
at the camp to
keep these peo-
ple going."
On her way
into Seaforth,
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Dan Schwab photo
Sherry Welsh walks between Staffa and
Dublin on her way to Seaforth last week
on a 600 kilometre walk for Lions Camp
Dorset.
Welsh was joined in her walk by her
stepdaughter Anissa. Her son Eric
has also walked some of the way,
along other people she's met in com-
munities along the way.
She walks an average of 20 kilo-
metres a day, followed by a van bear-
ing the Lions Club symbol and the
Canadian flag, driven by fellow club
member Stew Stanley.
"People have been very generous
this year," says Welsh, 46. "People
are stopping and even giving usdo-
nations on the road."
Welsh, who lives in Scotland Ont.,
expects to arrive in Zbbermory to
finish her journey on May 2.
Along the way, she'll also be speak-
ing at various Lions Club meetings,
to generate more awareness around
her campaign.
When Welsh arrived in Seaforth,
she was met by local Lions Club
members.
"This Camp Dorset sounds to me
like it's a real good idea," says Lions
Club member Bob Fisher. "It'd be a
great break for people with kidney
issues."
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