KAGAWONG—Organizers Anna and Wayne Aelick, along with 30 of their friends, relatives, neighbours and co-workers gathered at the Park Centre on Saturday, June 11 to go for a five-kilometre ‘stroll for liver.’ While the skies looked grey and ominous, the 10° Celsius temperatures held and the rain did not come.
This is the fourth year the couple has taken to the streets of Kagawong to raise money for the Canadian Liver Foundation. In 2017 Mr. Aelick received a lifesaving liver transplant. He and his wife had taken part in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and thought “there must be something for liver, so we have a way to pay back.” Enter Stroll for Liver.
Every year hundreds of Canadians rally together and join the Stroll for Liver. People do this to help raise awareness and vital funds to propel life-changing research forward. Participants do this to help find cures and better treatment options for the people who need help right now. And strollers do this to make sure that anybody living with a liver disease in Canada can access the support they deserve.
Participants from five years up to 81 carried bright coloured Stroll for Liver signs and walked throughout the village.
To date, Team Aelick has raised over $15,000, with a goal of $20,000. They have held yard sales and Mr. Aelick has shaved off his eyebrows and died his hair green for the cause.
Prior to taking to the streets of Ontario’s prettiest village, Mr. Aelick thanked everyone for coming out and invited them to join him and his wife at their home afterwards for refreshments and a bite to eat.
Mr. Aelick’s liver is “good” and while he has to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life, his positive attitude and sense of humor makes each day a great day.
