Oak Bay war veteran John Hillman, 102 years of age, has officially kicked off his latest courtyard walking marathon while taking on the B.C. heat wave.
Hillman is planning on walking a lap around the courtyard of his Oak Bay residence for every year of his life in order to raise funds for Save the Children Canada.
The veteran undertook a similar marathon last year, walking five laps per day until he achieved his goal of 101 total laps, but this year started under slightly different conditions.
British Columbia is currently experiencing a heat wave and on Monday morning — the scheduled date to kick off Hillman’s walk — Victoria had already climbed to 32 degrees by 9 a.m.
Organizers were suggesting to Hillman to either postpone the start of his walk or to only do two laps in the heat, however, he was determined and carried out the full five.
He's out of the gates! 102-year-old John Hillman did 5 of his 102 laps in 32 degree heat this morning…in a shirt and tie…all class. They wanted him to do only 2 laps, but John felt good and kept going. Rooting for ya John! @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/tQNHnybFeV
— Joe Perkins (@JoePerkinsCHEK) June 28, 2021
“That man is so inspirational, the stamina and the spirit that he has,” said one onlooker of John’s laps.
In 2020, Hillman smashed his goal for laps walks and funds raised for Save the Children, raising more than $140,000.
To support Hillman’s walk this year, you can donate here: https://bit.ly/3gYp758
Graham Cox
