When 104-year-old John Hillman gets dressed Friday morning he may linger on thoughts of a scotch later in the day.
It’s a tradition now, in its fourth year, that the 104-year-old Oak Bay man finishes his annual fundraising walk with a tip of the glass.
A veteran of the Second World War, Hillman started walking laps of the courtyard at Carlton House where he lives in 2020, the year he turned 101. He paced 101 laps that year, inspired by the late Capt. Tom Moore of England, who did 100 laps of his garden to raise money for charities. The fundraiser returned in 2021 with 102 laps and 2022 with 103 laps. Over the three years he raised more than $333,000 for international aid organization Save the Children.
This year, he started the walk May 1, making about 10 laps a day at 10:30 a.m. and took the weekend off, with the finale landing on Friday of the second week of walking.
RELATED: 104-year-old Oak Bay veteran embarks on 4th fundraiser for Save the Children
In what has also become tradition, singer Stephanie Greaves performs on the final day, May 12, when Save the Children CEO Danny Glenwright, Carlton House president Judi Prewett and MLA Murray Rankin are expected to walk with Hillman.
Week two kicked off with Oak Bay Police Department members joining the laps on Monday and the Oak Bay Fire Department on Wednesday.
Each year, Hillman sets his fundraising goal in line with his age – this year the goal is $104,000. As of Tuesday, this year’s tally was just shy of $50,000.
Donate online at bit.ly/johnhillman104 or in person at Carlton House, 2080 Oak Bay Ave.
@van_reeuwyk
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.