The Journey Begins | Week One: May 12 - 18, 2019
Cultivating Hope: The Journey begins.
Filled with emotions and an awareness that I never realized, I knew that the person that took the first step, will not be the same person who made the last step. Knowing that the months of physical preparation would not compare to the emotional "training" that would happen.
My goal was to "Cultivate Hope," I didn't realize that it would be the participants on day one that would set the tone for what I would understand what "cultivating hope" would be. I knew it would be my support driver Clara and I on the start line, and I didn't realize I would have the physical support of my maternal Uncle and his two sons with their wives and children. What a great start, this sets the tone, and I knew at that moment #StartTalking, #KeepTalking #StartWalking, #Keepwalking would be at the forefront of my mind every day afterward.
As we completed the first week, the emotions were high, and I knew I was going to make it. The support was made clear. The greatest lesson that I learned this week was, "When you think you can – you will!"
Each day, I found or received a gift on the highway, these gifts are highlighted under each day here. Continue reading to see more. This weeks gift was a child's smile: That no matter what the challenges are, if we look through life through a child's eyes, we will always have the answers we seek.
The Journey Begins | May 12, 2019 | Day 1
One foot in front of the other - As we approached the day and knowing the beginning of the Walk is nigh, the emotions that set this journey into motion began long before May 12, 2019. This day has personal meaning; my Grandmother, Monica McKinnon, had died on May 12, 1991. This day set me on a journey to honor my emotional pain and validate my grief.
Gift: A broken watch - That no matter what conditions we are in, the girt of our time is precious.








Prince Rupert enroute to Terrace
Ben McKinnon
Kiera McKinnon
Sandra McArthur
Vincent McKinnon Jr.
Alexander McKinnon
Clementine Thomas
Kylee Prince
Clara MacDonald
Taniel Prince
Zayden McKinnon
Benjamin McKinnon (Baby)
Burns Lake to
Wet'suwet'en First Nation
Jacob Tom - 15 kms
Jennifer Tom - 18 kms
Delores Tom - Delores 12 kms
Desmond Tom - 4 kms
Joseph Tom - 4 kms
Abigail Tom - 7 kms
Julianna Tom - 5 kms
Community
Shaunda Nechvatal - 5 kms
Leah Savanna - 3.25 kms
Ron Bartlet
Birgitte Bartlet
Step by Step | May 13, 2019 | Day 2
Gift: A Broken piece of glass - That when we look in the mirror, no matter how broken we are, the better will always shine through.








Prince Rupert to Terrace
Kiera McKinnon
Sandra McArthur
Alexander McKinnon
Clementine Thomas
Clara MacDonald
Zayden McKinnon
Community
Emily Ellen Beadman Bike 5 kms
Tania M . Julian - 8.07 kms
Shaunda Nechvatal - 1.5 kms
Samantha Jane Moise - Bike 18 kms
Leah Savanna - 8.23 kms
Candice Erickson - 5.02 kms
Ron Bartlett
Birgitte Bartlett
Toni Carlton - 2.85 kms
Through Terrace and Beyond | May 14, 2019 | Day 3
Gift: A Feather - That no matter how alone we are, our ancestors will always be with us. We just have to look for the signs.








Prince Rupert to Terrace
Donna LePrete
Nicole Page
Kiera McKinnon
Sandra McArthur
Alexander McKinnon
Clementine Thomas
Clara MacDonald
Zayden McKinnon
Community
Tania M . Julian - 8.32 kms
Shaunda Nechvatal - .98 kms
Samantha Jane Moise - 2 kms
Leah Savanna - 4.98 kms
Keisha Lynn Thomas - 3.36 kms
Ron Bartlett
Birgitte Bartlett
Kitwanga Bound, Making Friends Along the Way | May 15, 2019 | Day 4
Gift: A zip tie - The takeaway I got from this is that no matter what binds us, we are not prisoners to others but ourselves.