Every honk of support gets a wave back from 49 year-old Thomas Wamiss who started walking south from Port Hardy on Saturday to raise money for cancer research and already there has been a wild range of emotions.
“I tell ya I laughed, I cried, I asked myself who I was talking to, I staggered, but I went right through it and kept on going,” Thomas told CHEK News during a break north of Campbell River Monday.
Wamiss is walking to raise money for cancer after losing two older brothers to the disease, but when you speak to Thomas the layers peel away and you find out there’s so much more to the walk.
“I was an alcoholic most of my life and just to give you an idea, I would get a 12 pack and a 15 pack for a night cap on a work night and that got progressively worse at the end and if I didn’t stop I would be dead,” Wamiss said.
The drinking began at puberty Thomas said, to hide another difficult reality.
“For me when I started drinking it was at that time because I’m non-binary and that’s why I hid it. I was scared to let it out because back in those days it wasn’t talked about, seen or even accepted.”
Thomas has now been sober for 18 months which is why the walk is called the Sobriety Walk for Cancer.
“I think he’s doing amazing and I think the biggest message I hear from Thomas is trying to and wanting to inspire others to do the same, to do good things for themselves, to love themselves and put themselves first,” said friend Cary-Lee Calder.
“It’s all about stepping into your potential and believing in yourself because if you put your mind to it you can do anything,” Wamiss added.
Wamiss plans to arrive in Victoria Wednesday July 29th.
A link to the fundraising page can be found here.
Dean Stoltz
