Making a Difference…one step at a time!

Leading up to the Walk for Wyatt’s Warriors, I was really consumed by ordering the hats, getting snacks for the kids and monitoring that beautiful red thermometer telling us we exceeded our goal and reached over $4000!!!!!

I found it difficult to express my gratitude to the wonderful families who made up Zack’s Dream Team. No words could ever express how the shear act of them being there demonstrated a friendship beyond belief. We celebrated our kids birthdays, had bbq and drinks on the street- but this was an act of giving back that meant the world to our family. Paul and I were overwhelmed by the fact that these very busy families had chosen to spend their Sunday with us, raised money with us and cheered for our Zackie with us.

Our sweet niece Makayla was pushed in her wheelchair (listening to Beyonce all the way), while the littlest members (and Ty) took turns being pulled in wagons or pushed in strollers. My amazingly proud Mom and Dad hung out with Zackie and made the 5km look easy, while the kids walked on pure sugar rushes from all Ring Pops and candy.

Nikki, Dillon, Laura, Nicole, Ella H. and Ella S. walked with pride and couldn’t wait to get to the park to play! Logan and Dylan T. chased each other to the finish line and got their parents to walk an extra 2km!!! Cool Jake bladed the path and Nate didn’t miss a trick! Meanwhile, sweet Makenna and Carson chilled in their strollers. Kailey and Dylan helped me hold our signs while Tristan and Jayden ate their way around the walk! Austin and Jordan kept their daddies very busy and Zackie was surely not thrilled to be in the stroller and not allowed to walk!

We finished that walk with a sense of having done something to not only give back to the place where Zackie was given his chance at life, but to inspire our children. The single greatest thing we can teach our kids is empathy and compassion for others. Learning to give back is one of the things that Paul and I work really hard to instill in our kids. Its not enough to talk about it, watch the programs on tv, and “like” a charity online. While the act of giving money is crucial, its not the only way to give. It is the DOING and the action in giving back that is the best way to teach charity to our kids.

I truly can’t find a way to say thank you to all of you who sponsored our team helping us reach over $4000 for the Labatt’s Heart Centre at Sick Kids. Thank you to those who forwarded the email to build awareness of Congenital Heart Disease and especially thank you to those who took that walk with us.

The true measure of what we did, is in the eyes and face of our Zackie. During those 5km, we never lost sight of the fact that we were able to walk with our amazingly brave son, celebrate his victories and honour that he is still with us. While we cherish that fact with our whole hearts and hold him even closer- we won’t ever forget that Wyatt is no longer with his family, and that his short life allowed us to pass along a lasting lesson for all of us on Zack’s Dream Team.