Walk a mile in his shoes: 95-year-old set for trek from Saskatoon to Regina

Saskatoon’s Frank Atchison is lacing up his shoes and will walk the 250 kilometres from Saskatoon to Regina in support of sick children.

The soon-to-be 95-year-old plans to walk five kilometres a day raising money for Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“This is something that I’ve had in mind for a long time; I was just looking for the opportunity to do it,” Atchison told Gormley on Wednesday. “This virus that’s going around has really interrupted our fundraising methods that we usually do.”

Atchison is to start his walk from the Masonic Temple in Saskatoon at 10 a.m., Thursday. It should take him about two months to get to Regina walking five kilometres a day.

“I’ll probably come home part of the time,” he said. “When we get to about Davidson, I’ll probably start staying over in the motorhome.”

Donations can be made by calling 1-866-699-9292. Cheques can be mailed to WA WA Shriners of Saskatchewan, 2065 Hamilton St., Regina Sask, S4P 2E1. E-tranfers can be sent to admin@wawashriners.org

“Proceeds will be divided equally between the Jim Pattison Hospital for Children and the Shriners Hospital. It will be split right down the middle,” Atchison said.

The walk will wrap up at the WA WA Shriners of Saskatchewan Temple in Regina on June 15, when Frank will receive his 50-year Shriners service pin.