---

First aid kit, CHECK. Toenails clipped, CHECK. Snacks made and tea brewed, CHECK. Double check everyone knows where we’re meeting, CHECK. Bag packed, clothes laid out, hiking boots ready to be put to use, CHECK CHECK CHECK. It’s 11:39PM on the eve of MSF’s annual Walk Without Borders challenge.

 

Tomorrow, I, among 21 of my friends from my Global Health program, will be walking 50 km on the Bruce Trail from just outside of Grimsby to Niagara Falls for this years Walk Without Borders challenge. 

 

For the third year in the row, MSF has put on an annual fundraising (and awareness raising) event where for the month of October, people from all around the globe walk in solidarity with those who have to travel long distances to access health care and safety. Some walk every day and track their kilometers, some walk a long way in one day. That is what I have done for the past two years and will be doing again this year. One day. A LONG way. 

 

The past two Octobers I walked from my front door step in downtown Halifax to the iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse (a whopping 46KM on the shoulder of the highway). The first year, two of my incredible friends agreed (after a tad bit of bribery) to accompany me on the walk and the second year, three of my friends (with a little less bribery) came along for the adventure. Both times I learnt a lot: #1. Don’t sit down for too long or you wont be able to stand up #2. Buy the good blister band aids even though they’re $2 more than the others #3. The last 5KM feels like 80KM #4. When you start complaining about your feet hurting, think about those who have to walk long distances in much poorer health conditions and then you shut up and #5. A positive attitude is by far the most important piece of equipment to bring…..Oh and #6. For goodness sakes, do not forget to clip your toenails… 

 

I haven’t even walked it yet but I have already learnt something amazing this year: I am in a program surrounded by incredibly brilliant, brave, big hearted people who would give up an entire day in the midst of high crunch paper/assignment time to do something BIG. Something AMAZINGLY challenging mentally and physically. Something that is SO beyond themselves.

 

As of right in this moment, we as a team, The Holy Walkamolies, have raised $3,766.50. That’s enough money to send a doctor/nurse to the field for one month and purchase an emergency medical kit that provides 1,000 people with medical care for three months (and some leftover). 

 

These 21 people are making me feel as though I am exactly where I am supposed to be: studying global health and getting to work (and walk!) with people with a common goal. 

 

Watch the video!