102-year-old veteran finishes fundraiser, inspires 35-year-old's tattoo
There are other people’s morning walks and then there’s John Hillman’s morning walks.
“They are all shouting and clapping and helping me go on,” John says of the dozens of people cheering him along his route.
One of his many fans — Scott — is taking pictures of John’s walk.
“It’s a reminder of service,” Scott says. “Every day we should strive to help others.”
The 102-year-old John is finishing the final leg of his 102-lap fundraiser around Oak Bay’s Carlton House courtyard in support of Save the Children Canada.
It’s a journey that began last year, when John felt like he was 20 years younger.
“I had all that energy and all that desire to do something with my life,” John explains. “I didn’t seem to have done very much.”
Although the Second World War Royal Air Force veteran enlisted at 17 and served in France, Italy, Africa, and Burma, with the medals to prove it — and although he returned home to raise a family with his wife, Irene, that’s grown to include grandchildren and great grandchildren — John felt compelled to do more.
“I’ve nearly finished my life,” he says. “So it’s no good for me going for a cause for me.”
So the then 101-year-old committed to walk 101 laps in support of Save the Children Canada.
John ended up gaining international attention, raising more than $140,000, and earning fans like Scott’s respect.
“[He’s] willing to sacrifice,” Scott says. “And put others before yourself.”
The walks inspired the 35-year-old — who’s a reservist with the Canadian Scottish Regiment — to ask John to hand-write the group’s Gaelic motto (translated as “Ready for the Fray”) on a piece of paper. Later, Scott had it tattooed on his arm.
“It’s a reminder that no challenge is insurmountable,” Scott says.
John certainly demonstrated that during his second fundraising walk this year. He kept walking despite the record-breaking heat last week and the loss of his wife of 80 years a few days ago.
“She really loved me right to the end,” he says. “And I loved her.”
John says he can feel Irene with him every step of the way.
“She’s probably thinking I’m a show-off,” he laughs.
But after a little teasing, there’d no doubt be big embracing.
“She’d be proud of me,” he smiles. “I really feel like I’ve done something worthwhile.”
Which is why — after completing 102 laps and raising $30,000 this year — John’s planning to do it all again next year, plus one more lap, when he turns 103.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.