Mitch Calvert
The word “can’t” simply isn’t in the vocabulary for brothers Sandy Stalker and George Walsh.
Stalker and Walsh (both born to the late Norah Walsh) share a common bond: their love for athletics.
But unlike the usual sibling rivalry sports creates in most families, the pair rely on one another for success every step of the way.
Stalker, 68, has pushed, pulled, and carried Walsh, 61, who was born with cerebral palsy, over thousands of miles in triathlons, cycling events, and runs over the last 20-plus years.
“I’m the youngest,” laughed Walsh, whose communication skills and mobility are severely limited.
“But I’m the best looking,” Stalker smiled.
Born to different fathers [Alex Stalker and George Walsh Sr.], the brothers have been inseparable, with Walsh growing up as Stalker’s biggest fan in all his athletic endeavours before finally getting the opportunity to actively participate alongside him.
“When I was playing football, he was at all my games, and when I started doing triathlons, he asked one time, ‘What’s it like?’ and I thought right then, ‘From now on, you are my training partner,’” Stalker recalled.
“We’ve been doing it ever since.”
The duo run a 10-km route every other night along the riverfront here in Fort Frances, with Walsh in a wheelchair modified with a bicycle wheel while Stalker pushes him along running behind.
In triathlons, Walsh rides shotgun on Stalker’s bike in a special seat and is pulled behind in a flotation device during the swimming portion of each race.
“I want him to be in the water so he’s in a wet suit, and then we put him in a tube that’s in the water and I pull the tube behind me,” Stalker explained.
Stalker added he wouldn’t consider doing an event without his brother again.
“He’s my training partner and that’s all there is to it,” he stressed. “He loves it and having him with me is motivational.”
If this story sounds familiar, it is. The father/son phenomenon of Dick and Rick Hoyt began one spring day in 1977 and they’ve raced together ever since—entering 229 triathlons, 66 marathons, and 26 Boston Marathons in much the same fashion as Stalker and Walsh.
The American pair have become a world-wide sensation, appearing on billboards, in magazines, and all over the Internet, including a video documentary on YouTube that has nearly seven million views.
In the process, they’ve turned themselves into “Team Hoyt,” snagging corporate sponsorships and delivering motivational lectures on racing and disability.
The similarities between the American icons and the local brothers are obvious. But Stalker downplayed the likeness, instead choosing to focus on the charitable efforts that have been achieved through both of their efforts.
“I don’t know exactly how long ahead of us they started it, but right around the same time, I guess,” Stalker said. “They’ve done some amazing things.
“Rick is [diagnosed with cerebral palsy] like George, [but] they’re a father-and-son team.”
The brothers live together and moved to Fort Frances four years ago when their mother, Norah, got sick. She passed away in June, 2008.
“George, my mother, and myself have raised over $100,000 for the Terry Fox [Foundation] over the years, but since my mom passed away, we haven’t done as much [$1,500 this year],” Stalker noted.
“[George] has done an awful lot,” he added. “He leads the colour party [in Thunder Bay] in from the statue to start the run in Thunder Bay, and he’s done that for going on 28 years now.”
Stalker said he was disappointed to read about the low turnout at the local Terry Fox Run back on Sept. 13.
“I guess people in Fort Frances haven’t heard of cancer,” he lamented. “We read in the paper that only 24 people, and all power to those 24, were there.
“With all the money that’s in this town and people can’t get up on a Sunday morning? It’s disappointing,” Stalker added.
“It’s the second Sunday of September every year.”
The pair will be entered in the “Heart of Thunder Bay” race this Sunday (Sept. 27) as well as the CIBC “Run for the Cure” breast cancer awareness event the following Sunday (Oct. 4).
“The Terry Fox Run is his focus every year,” Stalker said of his brother. “The ‘Heart of Thunder Bay’ is a great event, and it’s a timed event, so I especially like that because we can get a time and see how fast we go.”
Their sister, Jane Trivers, also resides in Fort Frances.
