Organizers of the Walk for Truth—Asbestos Kills are hoping participants in the event will pre-register. The walk, which takes place from noon to 3 pm on Sunday, June 10, is hosted by the AREA (Asbestos-related Research, Education and Advocacy) Fund to honour asbestos victims and to raise awareness of the asbestos issue.
“We believe that the Walk for Truth is the single most important thing that the AREA Fund will do this year,” said Tracy Ford, who, along with her family, created the fund. “As there are no cures for the diseases that asbestos creates, prevention is the only ‘cure.’ We hope that people will participate in the walk and will share their knowledge of the hazards of asbestos with their co-workers and their loved ones.
Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre who is fighting to keep asbestos mines closed in Quebec and to ban asbestos in Canada, will be attending, as will MLA Nicholas Simons and City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa. There will be guest speakers from Local 76 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, WorkSafeBC and a local resident who lost his father to mesothelioma.
Powell River Recreation Complex is the start and end point of the walk. The route is a simple loop along Joyce Avenue with Duncan Street being the turnaround point. However, participants can turn around at Alberni or Barnet streets, if Duncan is too far.
Additionally, 107 daisies will be handed to participants to gently drop from the footbridge in honour of the 107,000 people that the World Health Organization estimates will die from asbestos-related diseases this year alone.
A local photographer will take pictures of children with a firefighter and Sparky in front of a fire truck.
In-person registration will be available at Powell River Town Centre Mall from noon to 2 pm on Saturday, June 2. Online registration is available on the group’s website.
