From Saskatoon to Regina: 94-year-old Frank Atchison continues his walk for children’s hospitals

Where’s Frank Atchison? Well, you may have seen the 94-year-old near Disley recently as he walks from Saskatoon to Regina to raise money for children’s hospitals.

Frank started his walk on April 15 to raise funds for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and the Shriner’s Hospital in Montreal.

“He is doing this walk for the children,” said Don Atchison, Frank’s son.

“I think people need to understand that there are a lot of children and their families have been told, ‘There is no hope for your child. You’re just going to have to live with whatever you’ve been given here.’ ”

Don recalled a story about one particular patient at Shriner’s Hospital. The girl’s feet were backwards, crossed over. She had approximately 100 operations. He explained how she is walking now and doctors gave her the good news that she will hopefully be able to dance come her high school graduation.

“There is just story after story like this of all the positive things going on,” Don said. “It is all about the children. It’s what he talks about.

“He just wants (the children) to have a better quality of life.”

Frank is expected to reach the town of Lumsden by Tuesday for a mini celebration. After that, he is off on his final leg to Regina.

So far, Frank’s shoes are holding up and nothing is stopping him from reaching the Queen City — not even the road or weather conditions.

“He’s feeling really well,” Atchison said. “He’s had some tough slugging along the way because part of the highway’s shoulders are gravel.

“He was walking through gravel ankle deep and winds were about 50 kilometres (per hour), and he struggled there for a few days. Then, this Tuesday it was raining when he got started at Bethune but he did some wonderful walking there and got going.”

Frank Atchison is walking from Saskatoon to Regina to raise money for the the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and the Shriner’s Hospital in Montreal.

On Wednesday, Frank’s walk was interrupted by a stopped train.

A photo sent by Don shows Frank at the front of the train engine with his arms spread and a gigantic smile stretching across his face.

“He got to talk to the engineers and that brought back some great memories for him,” Atchison said. “I can tell you it has been absolutely fantastic.”

Special moments like these have been plentiful throughout Frank’s journey.

“A lady came out from Bladworth to thank Dad for driving the train every day,” Don said.

“She used to get on the train and he would drive her to school in Davidson all the time.

“So there are stories like that. Then the Luthers on Highway 11 where they have Riskan Hope. My dad use to go there and have refreshments with the father, Martin. There is just story after story and Dad is just absolutely floored.”

The people of Saskatchewan have been donating to the cause, cheering on Frank every step of the way.

Frank Atchison is walking from Saskatoon to Regina to raise money for the the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and the Shriner’s Hospital in Montreal.

“People have been stopping on the highway,” Don said. “They walk over, they give him a cheque, sometimes it’s cash, and they talk to him.

“It’s been an experience that just shows what people in Saskatchewan are all about. They are warm, kind, and caring people and they just want people to have a better quality of life in general.”

Frank plans to reach Regina by June 15 — his 95th birthday and a day that marks his 50 years as a Shriner.

To make a donation to Where’s Frank? visit wawashriners.org, or donate directly to Frank himself — if you can catch him, that is.