'I know what war's all about': 103-year-old B.C. man begins fundraising walk for Ukrainian children
John Hillman, a Second World War veteran living in Oak Bay, B.C., has kicked off his fundraiser for Ukrainian children and families affected by war.
The 103-year-old began his campaign Monday, and plans to walk 103 laps around the courtyard of his independent living centre.
Hillman's scheduled to walk 10 laps around the courtyard every day, and local children are slated to join him on his walks next week.
The centenarian is raising money for the Save The Children charity, with funds going towards Ukrainian children.
"It touched my heart to see those kids being herded away from their homes and without any hope of going back to them," said Hillman on Monday.
"It only amplified my desire to help them," he said.
This is the third year that Hillman has taken on a fundraising walk for Save The Children.
In 2020 and 2021, he walked 101 and 102 laps around his residence for his respective birthdays, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.
Last year, he braved a historic heatwave to continue his walk, when temperatures rose above 30 C in Oak Bay. On Monday, Hillman endured rain.
"The walk was wet," He said. "But I don't mind, I've been in worse weather than that during my service in the wartime."
As of Monday afternoon, Hillman had raised more than $19,500 for Save The Children. He hopes to raise $103,000 this year.
The veteran hopes that Canadians and people around the world will donate to the cause.
"I saw enough war. I served the whole of it," he said.
"I know what war's all about and I know what those kids will be facing. I was only 18 myself when I went."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.