FASTEC || Tom's Walk

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2009 Tom's Walk | His Story | Press & Media | Gallery | Contact Tom

2009 Tom's Walk || top

This year, Tom, Shadow, and supporters will be walking across Belleville on Friday, April 3rd, rain or shine. We'll start our walk from Belleville's Wal-Mart, walking down North Front Street to Dundas Street. From Dundas Street, we will proceed to Haig Road (see the map HERE). We leave Wal-Mart at 10AM.

On Saturday, April 4, Wal-Mart is going to host a Fundraising BBQ, with all proceeds going to FASTEC Inc.

Download this year'sTom's Walk pledge sheet and information brochure:

His Story || top

Jill, with husband Joe Dockrill, adopted 3 year old Tom Wilkinson in 1981. He soon began acting out violently; once Tom began school, it was even more clear that he was struggling with a serious and complex problem. After numerous diagnoses, and medications, Tom was eventually diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, when he was 13 years old.

In 2001, motivated by another individual's fundraising efforts, Tom, his brother Matt, and his dog Shadow, set out on the first Tom’s Walk – an 1800-km cross-province trek from Windsor to Ottawa, and 24 cities in between. His goal was to raise awareness for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and to raise money to open the first FASD residential treatment and education centre in Canada. He receiving much media coverage and got the opportunity to meet thousands of people, spreading his message of awareness and hope. In total, he raised approximately $20,000 through this first effort.

Every year since 2001, Tom and Shadow embark upon Tom's Walk. In 2002, Tom walked from Trenton to Belleville; in 2003, they walked across the city of Belleville. Again in 2004, Tom and Shadow walked from Trenton to Belleville, and 2005 saw them walk within the city. In 2006, Tom and Shadow again walked the 1800 km, and visited the 26 cities as they had done in 2001. In 2007 and 2008, Tom, Shadow and participants have completed a walk across Tom's and Shadow's hometown of Belleville, Ontario.

On April 20, 2007, the walk was extended to include the Tyendinaga community. 310 walkers from Quinte Mohawk School on the Tyendinaga Territory joined Tom in a walk from the school to the Mohawk Community Centre to help raise funds and awareness for FASD. Together, they raised over $4000 for FASTEC Inc. See photos from this walk in the gallery below.

Press & Media || top

Tom's Walk has received much attention from the media over the last six years, including an appearances on CanadaAM, Global News, TVOntario, interviews on CBC Radio One, and other local radio stations. numerous other television and radio interviews, as well as articles in many newspapers ranging from the Toronto Star to the Belleville Intelligencer, and the papers of towns he visited during his walk. Below is a selection of links to media coverage Tom's Walk has received.

CBC.ca - 4 April 2001 - "Belleville man begins fundraising journey"

CTV.ca - 17 April 2001 - "Man walking 1800 km to raise money for fetal alcohol syndrome"

The HealthLine - 6 April 2006 - "Province-Wide F.A.S.D. Awareness"

Office of City of Hamilton - 6 April 2006 - "Tom's Walk & FASD Awareness"

MPP Daryl Kramp's Statement - 9 May 2006 - "Kramp Welcomes Tom to Parliament Hill"

Woostock Sentinel-Review - 24 August 2006 - "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder"

Gallery || top

Click on each square to view photos from Tom's Walks.

2001