Volunteers Wanted!

Rest stops Two hour shift at a rest stop to to give nourishment to walkers and give directions along their route.

Marketing Team

1. Work with Participant Coordinator to: a) do some phoning to inform groups about the Walk and b) distribute flyers,posters and registration forms.

If you are interested in helping out with this fun event, please call us 743-7621 or email us at info@familycaregiverssupport.org

The Big Day...2008

Well, the day began with opening the doors of the Shawnigan Lake Community Centre just before 6 a.m., while some birds were still greeting the morning. Michael got to work immediately setting up the tables for registration. Ranjana put up some signs and began to run through what would be happening this day. Garth arrived and helped with set up. Nadeane wandered in, greeted everyone, and, at a furious pace, prepared the rest stop boxes in time for distribution.

Getting Rest Stops Ready Grant showed up before 6:30 a.m. to load rest stop tables onto his pickup truck. The night before, these tables had been brought out of storage by Mike, the community centre’s custodian, Michael and friends. It has to be mentioned here, that Mike had generously offered to do the job by himself!

Shortly after 6:30 am, Rod joined Grant, in loading up trucks with the containers of Gatorade (prepared the day before by Katherine and Bill), large water bottles, rest stop boxes, and chairs. Then, off they went to drop off what was needed at each rest stop.

Marking the Route Bob and his grandson, Jake, were finishing putting up signs and making sure the route was properly marked. The night before some students from Shawnigan Lake School had helped Bob set up route markers. All this involved bicycling along the trails or driving around the Lake, stopping at 1 km intervals to hammer wooden stakes into the ground. Each kilometer had been sponsored by a Cowichan Region business and the signs that showed their name had been prepared by Bad Dog Graphics. The kilometer markings had been painstakingly prepared by Bob.

Setting up Sound and Registration Registration volunteers began to file in for their orientation at 7 a.m. Katherine, Bill and Nick quietly swept into the centre with sound equipment donated by Duncan Music. The centre was bustling with activity, everyone doing their part to prepare for the big day.

Thanks to Nick’s technical expertise and Bill’s help, the sound system was quickly set up. Students from Shawnigan Lake School began to put up tents. Shirley and Gary, Robin and Jim came to help with the morning preparations. When, John, our MC, appeared, he quickly assumed his role. Before our walkers arrived, registration volunteers were in place, the start finish the banner had been put up, and the raffle table was getting ready for selling tickets.

Registration and Warm ups Around 7:30 a.m. our walkers began to trickle in. Katherine greeted them warmly and directed them to where they needed to go. Soon participants were flowing into the centre and through the registration system which was sponsored by Silverfern Clinic. Nadeane held a rest stop volunteer orientation session at 7:50 a.m. after which the volunteers made their way to their respective rest stops -- ready for action! John made some announcements to explain what would be happening during the day and introduced Stasha - our energetic fitness instructor. Just after 8 a.m., she began warm-ups, leading everyone in stretching and preparing for the challenge ahead. While walkers waited for the start, there was a frenzy of raffle ticket sales. Ranjana and Shirley happily sold tickets to all interested!

The Walkers are off! At 8:30 a.m. Nadeane started the countdown, "5…4…3… 2…1…Go!” And the walkers were off!!!! When they reached the bottom of the community centre driveway, the 3.5k, 10k and 13.5k walkers got on to the buses donated by Clean Sweep Services that took them to the beautiful Trans Canada Trail. The 22k and 27k walkers marched on to Shawnigan Lake Rd. heading north.

All the walkers found rest stops along their journey. Water was supplied by Island Water Store, Gatorade by Lifesport, Subaru West Coast Triathalon Series, and fresh fruit by Thrifty Foods. Four of the eight rest stops were sponsored by Island Savings Credit Union, Mill Bay Branch, Valley Fitness, Shawnigan Lake Compounding Pharmacy, and Raven Communications. Island Savings employee volunteers manned two rest stops for part of the morning while Nurse Next Door Home Health Care Services and Cobble Hill Boy Scouts held the fort at two others. All the other rest stop volunteers were members of the community. These friendly folks provided nourishment and encouragement that helped the walkers soldier on.

When they reached the Kinsol Trestle, the 3.5k and 13.5k walkers were greeted by Lori and Grant, from the Shawnigan Lake Historical Society. They viewed a storyboard about the Trestle, asked questions, and were invited to the Shawnigan Lake Museum for a more detailed presentation of the history of this famous landmark. They even had their picture taken at the trestle! It was truly wonderful to see caregiving families join in this walk, including a gentleman in his wheelchair.

The 10k walk involved a fun team that strode along the trail in distinctive hats and attire reminiscent of tropical climes. The 13.5k walkers joined the 10k route a little later towards McGee Creek.

At the end of each of these three walks the buses transported people back to the Shawnigan Lake Community Centre. The bus drivers were excellent, completely engaged in the spirit of the day.

It was great to see five more teams valiantly trekking along their routes. The Wandering Minstrels, a musical youth team, seemed to float to the finish line while the largest team, the Island Savings Bums and Chums stormed through! The team that included boy scouts were determined, the experienced Silverfern Clinic team boldly charted their paths, and the Kerry Park gang strode with conviction! All our walkers marched gallantly. Their journey together provided opportunity to chat with friends or family, view beautiful scenery, help their community, and reach some personal goals.

Food and Foot Massages Meanwhile back at the centre, Maggie, Kathy,Shirley, Linda, Liette, Tina and Leslie were busy setting tables (which had been set up the night before by Michael and friends) and bringing out food donated by Corfield Coffee Bar, Arbutus Ridge Farms, Country Grocer, Thrifty Foods, and the Crosson’s. They worked tirelessly to ensure the walkers and volunteers were well fed in an atmosphere of calm and beauty.

St. John's ambulance volunteers set up their station outside the community centre. And there they remained until the end of the walk, providing assurance of first aid should the need arise. Thankfully, it did not!

Two students from Shawnigan Lake School remained at the centre throughout the day, to help whenever needed while other students from the school served as direction guides to walkers along the route. Joy and Bill drove these youth to their spots and then back again to the community centre when their shift was over. All in all 22 students from Shawnigan Lake School volunteered their services! What a tremendous and much appreciated help they were!

After orienting a second group of rest stop volunteers at 9 a.m., Nadeane proceeded to check in with the rest stops to offer any support or call for supplies.

Kayaking Between 9 and 9:30 a.m. check-in for kayak participants took place. Roberta, Ed and Marie warmly welcomed them and Glenn, owner of Cowichan Bay Kayaks, at the Government Wharf. Just after 10 am, the kayakers set off on a glorious adventure capably guided by Glenn. During their time on the water the Galley Marina was on call in case help was needed. Glenn commented that he had never seen the Lake without boats and with such glasslike water - it really was a perfect day for kayaking!

Live Music From 10 to 11 a.m. volunteers, visitors and the first walkers returning to the centre, were treated to music performed by the Shawnigan Lake School Jazz Band directed by Ralph Fraser. Entertainment continued throughout the day with Derek Nissen playing acoustic electrical guitar from 11 to noon, Broken Toys performing between noon and 1 p.m. and finishing off with the delightful BOPOMA Community Rhythm Marimba Ensemble from 1 - 3 p.m. They all had given much thought to their performances. For example, the boys from the Broken Toys came early to ensure the sound system would work well and had chosen songs that they felt would be upbeat, in keeping with the day. It was wonderful to have their energy and support!

Picking up Walkers Through the day’s proceedings Garth, Robin, Gary, and Jim patiently waited to respond to any transportation needs -- whether to pick up a walker wishing to return to the community centre, or to deliver supplies to rest stops. How vital it was to have them available!

Back at the Community Centre Walkers and kayakers streamed back to the community centre between 12 and 2 p.m., welcomed and greeted by Heidi or Tim or Garth, wonderful music, delicious food, and the opportunity for a comforting foot soak and massage. In recognition of their achievement, participants received a plant donated by Old Farm Garden Centre. One walker stated she enjoyed, “… feeling special at the end with food, massage and music!”.

Foot massages were given courtesy of Stasha, Fran, Rosalind, Pam and Shirley. Shirley made sure comforting foot soaking tubs were available with Epsom salts in warm water for all the walkers and kayakers who wanted it.

Belize Vacation Raffle Draw At 3 p.m. the raffle draw was held and the winners of all the prizes including the grand prize, of course, were drawn by Caryl Worden, Chair of the Shawnigan Lake Business Association. Someone finally won that wonderful holiday in Belize at the Jaguar Reef Lodge! What luck!

After the draw, Shirley Crosson, and Linda Sherry were recognized for their outstanding service. Shirley had masterminded the raffle and Linda had been a phenomenal ticket seller!

At the End of the Day With the day's proceedings at an end, and all the walkers and kayakers safely on their way back home, clean up began. Two Shawnigan Lake students, Gary, Shirley, John, Michael, Garth and Katherine began to take tents down, move tables and chairs and pack boxes into cars. Maggie, Shirley, Linda, and Leslie cleaned up the dining room and kitchen and carted away supplies for next year. Georgia returned the water bottles to Island Water Store and dropped cleaned and packed rest stop boxes to Ranjana’s. As jobs were completed, people set off for home, tired but happy about how the day had gone. Finally, Ron and Dave picked up the remaining rest stop tables and chairs and returned them to the community centre. Mike, the centre’s custodian, opened the door where the tables are stored, for the last time this day. Rod then delivered the Gatorade containers to the half ironman folks and…. The Shawnigan Lake Walk 2008, was over.

Walkers, kayakers, volunteers had worked hard and had fun in a good cause – supporting caregiving families. Though the day is over, the warm glow, the spirit of caring and working together, and the feeling that we have done something meaningful stays with us.