‘Hip Hip Hooray’ walk hailed a success

Despite cold, windy conditions, 56 adults and 11 children turned out to participate in the sixth-annual “Hip Hip Hooray” walk along the waterfront here Sunday afternoon.
While participation was down from last year, that didn’t discourage event organizer Jenny Wonfor.
“I was very pleased with the walk itself even though numbers were a little lower,” she said Monday. “The weather was too cold for some people.
“Walkers were down but receipts weren’t down,” she added, though noting the total amount raised had yet to be determined.
But Wonfor did mention Alex Hrychenuk, 81, a first-time participant who completed the route from Sister Kennedy Centre to the Sorting Gap Marina and back in a wheelchair, was tops in pledges, collecting $460.
A resident of Rainycrest Home for the Aged, Hrychenuk underwent hip surgery in December to repair a fracture.
“I wanted to do something worthwhile. Some people don’t give a darn about this [kind of thing] but I do,” he said. “I learned about it through the physiotherapy department at the hospital.”
Giving something back also was the reason why Tony O’Neill participated in Sunday’s walk. He’s had one hip replaced but, at age 86, is still an avid walker.
“[The Canadian Orthopedic Foundation] needs the money. It didn’t cost me anything to have my hip done so I make a donation every year,” he said.
But a good portion of the walk’s participants came from a combined total of 17 members of the Wonfor and Morrish families, who make it an annual event.
“We go out and walk for my mom,” said Tracey Morrish, one of Wonfor’s daughters.
“And we would probably go out [anyway]. A lot of my friends have had knees and hips replaced,” she added. “We all tend to go out and support causes like that.”
Local MPP and NDP leader Howard Hampton also was on hand for the walk, getting $185 in pledges for the cause.
“I think that’s the first time he’s been in it,” noted Wonfor. “I was happy to see that, I’ll tell you.”
Proceeds from “Hip Hip Hooray” will be split between the Canadian Orthopedic Foundation for education and research, and the physiotherapy departments at Rainycrest and La Verendrye hospital here.