WELCOME TO THE GREAT LAKE WALK to be held on the third Saturday of September

Comments from 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2002 | more from 2002 | still more from 2002
Scrapbook comments from 2006 | 2005...
Comments from Times Colonist in 2008

Inspired To Walk for Those Who Can't ....Until we have no Reason to Walk"

Dear Carolyne:

Just wanted to thank everyone for a great walk, the weather was perfect,
and always your wonderful, enthusiastic helpers, I just wish more folk
would come, to make all this work worthwhile.

Good luck for next year...Kind Regards..Eulah

Hi there,
I was wondering who the person who was taking the final bell ringing photos was? I didn't get a good shot myself so was hoping maybe they did and we would have access to that!

Thank you so much!! GREAT walk this year as my 4th year entering! THE BEST REST STOP by far was the CHURCH one!! THEIR enthusiasm took the cake!!! THEY were awesome!! And then of course the people at the end were amazing!!

Thank you again!
Sincerely
Cathy King
#3198

Hello,

First I would like to thank you for putting on such a great event. My Friend & I finished together with a 6:27 time. We were very pleased. I think the reason we felt so strong was due to the great volunteers. They were all so very supportive & showed allot of energy being there. They made it almost "Fun"!

I was wondering how we can view pictures & possibly order some as well. If you could let me know that would be great.

With Thanks,
Binder Kelsall

I would like to thank You and everyone else that put on an absolutely wonderful event. Coming back to the Island for such an event was a pleasure. I cannot say enough good things about all the people that worked to make this event such a success.

I would like to add a very special thank you to the gentlemen who fixed the portable toilets at checkpoint one after they were pushed over. I am sure that I am not the only thankful for this.

Thank You for hosting such a wonderful event, look forward to doing it again.

I would also like to know who to contact to get a copy of the picture at the finish line ringing the bell.

Thanks once again to all for such a great event.

Lyle Punt
Barrie On

HELLO TO MY FRIENDS!
CATHY KING
#3198
11:41:58
I am here to report that I was able to successfully complete the 4th annual great lake walk for muscular dystrophy!

It started @3:00 a.m. this year with me and my support crew waking up...koltin, dad & i loaded into the explorer @3:45 a.m. to go & pick up my walk-mates, stacey & leanne. We arrived in time to last minute pee & stretch! 5:00 a.m....we were off on our adventure into the dark!! The walk went very well for some, not so well for others...due to a knee injury we lost Leanne along the way....but she is determined to come back next year!!!

Stacey and I carried on with koltin cheering us along the way!! The weather was awesome!! No rain!! Yippeee!!! We both felt awesome as we walked into honeymoon bay...we put our mp3 players on and went with the music! My music put me into a terrific stride & came in all smiles!! As i approached the final hill, to the song "i'm alive" i took my headphones off and could hear that siren as the walkers cross the first line...i welled up at the moment as i knew the end was near, the end of the 56km & the end to a very long summer....as i got to the top of the hill, there was kalli running towards me with a bouquet of flowers.....with tears streaming down my face i got more flowers from my shelley & more flowers from cory...my mom & dad both there with tears in their eyes...as they know how bad i wanted this one...i ran in to ring the bell & it felt soooo good!!!

Thank you to my dad for being there every step of the way, and to koltin for his amazing charm to keep us smiling! Thank you to all the "olays" i got along the route!! Also thank you to my husband - who i know was with me as well as many other special people! Thank you for your emails & encouragement--it meant alot. I did have mike & adam close to my heart, as their pictures were hung around my neck! Both huge inspirations in my life!! Yes i finished and yes it was amazing but most importantly i was able to raise $1100 and i am still collecting pledges!!! Thank you for your support, your pledges and your faith in me to do this. As i rang that bell is signified sooo much...another victory for me & for the money that i know will go to the cause so close to my heart! Thank you again!!! With love & friendship, cathy king #3198

Dear Organizers and Volunteers of the Great Lake Walk 2005,

Wanted to tell you that your 2005 edition of the Great Lake Walk was outstanding!

This is the second time for Alison, my daughter, and my third time that we've had the opportunity to participate in your event. The following are some of the highlights from our perspective:
- we liked the "goody" bag full of interesting things, especially the t-shirt.
- the weather you ordered was virtually perfect: How did you arrange that?
- a "moving" start to the walk: singing O'Canada and the mention of Terry Fox
- the encouragement provided by people along the route: for example, a friendly individual asking for high fives, and offering anyone a beer as long as he could drink it; two women (monitoring the walkers) on an ATV- attached to the machine on a steel pole was an intravenous bag complete with plastic tubing (macabre humor?); some of the volunteers in whigs and costume (plenty of spirit); an elderly woman with a tambourine, an engaging smile and urging the walkers on; two young lady cheerleaders doing a routine that involved one of them doing the splits (ouch!): and smiles and a friendly "hello" from two RCMP officers.
- paramedics admirably coping with a variety of ills in order, where possible, to keep the participants mobile: for example, dressing a nasty looking blister with a blister bandage and covering it with duct tape, and offering wise counsel.
- the variety of food and drinks at the check point: healthy eating on the walk, sure, but my those chocolate chip cookies were delicious!
- some check point volunteers coming out onto the side of the road to greet walkers with words of encouragement/providing information and a choice of drinks
- careful monitoring of the walkers by various individuals along the route
- the camaraderie among the participants
- Alison loved the free foot massage!

Specifically, the "whole package" from start to finish is first class: the information provided on the website down to the care given to the other large and little details that make your event special. Best of all is the hospitality shown by the organizers and volunteers to the participants. It was a pleasure to be a part of the Lake Cowichan Walk 2005.

Thank you,

Daryl & Alison Bissell

Hi Folks,

Once again, we had the pleasure of participating in this excellent, well-organized event. Super volunteers with kind words of support and lots of food and beverage to keep us going, are much appreciated.

I believe there was an official photographer out on the course, and we had our pictures taken a couple of times by this woman. Can you tell us who she is and how we may get copies of the photos? Thanks.

Again, we really enjoyed your event and hope it continutes and grows in the future.

Dave and Jill Sherlock

Sure was a terrific event. Michaela's prints are terrific. We have framed everyone of them and my wife took it in yesterday and brought back a matching colour frame and it will be up tonight. Visitors often comment on the collection (now 4...see I can really count when I don't have Tylenol in me.
Les Hudson

Hello to All,

I was in awe as to how well you were all organized and how wonderful you all were, every one of you that I had the honour to meet. It was the best organized event I have ever been in my life and I have been to a lot.
When I reached the 42 km marker, I realized I was going beyond my distance ever conquered. What a wonderful feeling that came over me.
The wonderful people at the rest stops we so funny and wild at the same time, they made me feel so important and made me want to carry on when I had moments of not doing so.
At 56 years old, I will carry this in my memories as not only completing the distance but the chance to meet so many wonderful people.
To all of you I would like to thank you from my heart for all that you did to help me acquire my dreams.

Paul Legacy
Ladysmith, BC

Yesterday's event was the best of the five so far.
Volunteers 10/10
Organization 9.9/10
Weather 9.8/10
Road 9/10 (even some soft shoulders to run on this year!)
Sportsmanship of entrants 10/10
Davidson print 10/10
Thank you to everyone concerned and you can be assured we will continue to encourage others to enter the 2006 Great Lake Walk - it deserves our loyalty!
Les # 3177

• all the volunteers, especially those at the Hall at check-in and the Hall at completion – and, each rest stop for having so many caring volunteers to cheer everyone on, fill water bottles and basically provide whatever assistance they could (the half Popsicle at the last stop was a real treat as well)
• the residents who came out and cheered everyone on during the early morning and throughout the day, and especially the 3 children along the roadside at Honeymoon Bay
• Susan from Victoria who walked with me for a portion of time and who provided me with electrolyte crystals for my water bottle, potato with salt, and later at Rest Stop #10 for the carb pudding package – I enjoyed your company and health knowledge
• the park attendant at Lakeview Campsite who made our 2 night stay there most enjoyable, you were very informative about the area and we enjoyed the trail and boardwalk – we will definitely be back there for more camping throughout next year
• the waitress at the Trail’s End Pub on Friday afternoon for your friendliness and being a such great sport in providing us with a white wine and your concern to serve it in the right type of glass – you were a great, as were the appies
• Maureen and Michaela for assisting with providing me with an extra print for my special friend who supported me throughout the weekend

You have an awesome community spirit – thanks again for making it special for everyone.

Janny Rose
Sooke BC

Dear Bertha and Fabulous Volunteer Crew !!!!!! I want to say what fantastic event you people put together flawlessly. I'm still on an ultimate high telling everyone (even those that don’t walk/run or care to hear) that they must go to this event and experience the people this incredible journey!!! Or just take a trip to your part of the Island to enjoy the beauty and the friendly people. One request please!!! Could you please correct the spelling on my name. When I signed in we noticed I was registered under Brenda House, however, the real me is Brenda Houston
(#16 place). I had friends calling today to say I wasn’t listed and I was disappointed to see under results I was listed as Brenda House. I would really appreciate it if this could be corrected. Please let me know if this would be possible again give yourself and all your wonderful helpers a huge pat on the back for extravagantly organized event. Cheers, Brenda Houston.

This was my 3rd consecutive year for this walk, and once again the highlight was all the wonderful walkers & volunteers that I met along the way. It's wonderful to meet so many people who all have a common bond......and the common bond is tired, sore feet !

My 2005 strategy was to maintain an even walking pace throughout the day. My overall pace declined steadily throughout the day, but I was happy that the decline was gradual & steady.....not a sudden crash. I ended up with some heel blisters.....I'm not sure how avoidable those are after 56-km....I think that some blistering is inevitable. I ingested a package of carbohydrate gel (GU) at 7 different rest stops, and this seemed to make a difference in maintaining my energy level.

The rest-stop people were fabulous. Rest Stop #6 at curves was run by some frisky women....same with the DragonBoat Diva's at #7.

I appreciated the various cabin owners along the first part of the walk who sat at the roads edge with a fire to welcome us as we walked by.

I was disappointed that the crazy nurse lady was absent from rest-stop #11 this year.....or maybe I just missed her. However, this loss was offset by the tambourine & bell lady that greeted me on the road into Honeymoon Bay, with her "Welcome to Honeymoon Bay" poem.

Regarding the vandalism of the porta-potties at the Start and at stop #1, I understand that the people responsible for this vandalism have been identified. I would very much like to see them write a note of apology to be posted to this website. I'm not looking for vengeance; I would just like to see some acknowledgement of wrongdoing and some accountability.

See you all again in 2006.
Mike Bonkowski

I am very touched to have had the gift of participating in the Great Walk last Saturday. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. I thought "I can walk anything" but forgot that I'm a jogger and joggers prefer to jog. Oooops. This was my 1st of such event. I had completed 9 - ½ marathons and one marathon last Oct. I've been training for the Victoria ½ marathon in October and the longest run I've had in the past 4 months was 18K. I had not really thought through what this Great Walk was going to require of me.

Everything was so well organized. The homemade pasta dinner Friday was generous and great tasting. Registration was a simple process with many smiling and welcoming volunteers. I felt included and warmly regarded as a guest to the community. I was touched by the enthusiasm and open heartedness in the hall Friday night; an air of excitement hung about.

Breakfast at 3:45 am; never did that before. The volunteers must have been up for hours, again well organized and tasty. The coffee simple and bold; just what I needed to get my eyes open at that unearthly time. Who eats breakfast at 3:45 am? I asked myself. Me I guess, and looking around me, many others who seemed normal, but at another level, we're a weird bunch to be getting up at the hour to start a "race". Who are these people I asked myself? Really what is this all about that gets us out here? What is it that drives us? So many strangers; diverse and unique and yet strongly bonded by our common need or goal in being here.

I could go on and on as I recall my 7 hour and 23 minutes experience. As my experiences flash through my mind and body, my eyes fill with tears and my body with warmth. I felt so supported and cared for throughout the event and still do. Being cheered into each station fed my spirit. One volunteer said to me after I thanked her "This is all about you and we are here for you!" I felt that and was, and still am, touched. I am filled with gratitude that the community of Lake Cowichan would go to all that work to create an event for me/us to have this experience; what an unselfish act. Thank you.

As I was passing through the final stages, I was getting more and more exhausted. What kept me positive and optimistic were you people. Telling me I was doing great! I was looking strong! I was 31st - feeding me oranges, water, Gatorade, a towel to finally dry my face, if only for a moment. As I left one station, I looked forward to getting to the next, knowing that I would be buoyed up - knowing that there would be another caring group of strangers who had become my life line. What a bonding process. I felt like I was part of a family. I have been part of many personal development courses, team building processes and therapeutic events but nothing like this. This is real life in action, this is community in action, this is doing "caring" for each other, this is unconditional support. I knew no-one and no-one knew me and yet I knew that they were in my corner, routing for me and only asking for my best; whatever that was for me.

Coming down the final stretch was bittersweet. I was joyful and overcome with emotion as I realized that I was doing "it"; that I had "done it", the small smattering of sincere and enthusiastic cheering, as I rounded the corner into the hall, is imprinted on me. When I rang the bell and people congratulated my I was overcome with emotion; because I had done something that was a huge thing for me; because of the support that I felt in my heart from everyone that I had encountered AND a funny sadness that it was over, that there was no more to do. It was over, how anti-climatic and so true of many life events

I want each volunteer to know, whether I had contact with them or not, that I am appreciative of all their work and feel honoured and proud to have been a part of the Great Walk. They contributed to a process that provided me with a learning and growth opportunity. The result? I'm walking away being changed at a deep level; my spirit and authentic self a bit more emerged. I feel better about myself, I fell more able, I feel more confident and I walk down the street a little bit taller; I've grown a little bit more into the man that Ce is.

Heartfully and Thankfully to you all
Ce
"The majority of our labour history is around the issue of dignity, the dignity that is afforded by a safe and healthy workplace, assuring workers that they are not expendable objects." Marilyn Perry

(MR.) Ce W. Cayne CMA MA
Leadership and Learning Centre
Corporate Solutions Branch
3 - 810 Blanshard St.
PO Box 9404 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9V1
Phone: 250-356-2170 - Fax 250-952-6781

Hi,
I just loved the Great Lake Walk soo much! It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it next year! I met some wonderful people and all the volunteers were sooo great!! Thank you to all the great people/volunteers, who made it happen. You were fantastic!! Couldn`t have been better.
See you next year!
Tracy S.

Thank you for the opportunity to remind myself what I can do when I set my mind to it. The Baptist church group...you put a smile in my heart and it shone all day long. Friendly advice (thank you all) got me through without a single blister, but I must say that the coffee at the last couple of stops had me singing across the finish line. I was 12:07 so there weren't so many people on the sides of the streets to encourage us and so those that were (you know...smile) thank you soooo much, and all the cars that honked and waved, bless you. I got to walk with such a great group of new and old friends and I look forward to next year and an even bigger group.

Tanya Porter #3306
Create today as you wish!

Hello, This was my first Ultramarathon. I would like to thank all of the volunteers. You made this event possible! You were so friendly and happy. You helped me fill my water bottle and at one time you helped me get into my drop bag as my fingers weren't working very well. That was so good of you! I loved the medic vehicle with the "smash" sign and "pretend" blood bag. It brought a smile to my face every time I saw you. The next day, I thought I'd never do this again. But now I look forward to my next Ultra!
THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!!!

Hi Great Lake Walk Committee,

For the 4th year I was one of your participants and felt this was the best walk yet. The distance seems shorter every year. Could I be getting stronger? I started distance walking when I turned 65, four years ago, and sometimes wonder how long I will be able to continue. But you make it such a pleasurable event, I hope to be able to keep going a long time yet.

I do have a suggestion for next year. Since it will be your 5th year, a recognition of those who have completed the walk all 5 years would be a nice gesture. The prints are great to have, but some acknowledgement for continuing participation would, I think, encourage people to come back and isn't that a good thing?

Looking forward to next year's walk,
Catherine #3049