By Mike Su, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
After 4,600 kilometres, The Fellow in Yellow arrived in Tilbury, Ontario, and was greeted with a heartfelt welcome by the community.
The Fellow in Yellow, Trevor Redmond, who had run through Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Quebec, continued his journey across southern Ontario.
Redmond’s journey is about resilience and the strength that exercise brings to both body and mind. His message, “Every step counts,” emphasizes the importance of physical activity in healing and disease prevention.
“My real objective is to move as many Canadians as possible,” Redmond said. “The more we move, the more we move others.”
When Redmond arrived in Tilbury, the community quickly showed their support through various actions. Aside from offering complimentary energy drinks, some locals covered Redmond’s restaurant and grocery bills, while students from local schools volunteered to help at his events.
“They are really caring, they’ve got big hearts. And as I’ve said about all of southern Ontario, you are all just wonderful,” Redmond said.
Tilbury resident BillieJo Tremblay even extended her hospitality by inviting Redmond to stay at her home to rest before his departure.
“As a child, I saw Terry Fox and met Rick Hansen,” she said. “When I heard The Fellow in Yellow was coming through town and needed a place to stay, I wanted him to stay with me.”
As a nurse at a hospital in Chatham, Tremblay shared her support for the Fellow in Yellow’s mission, saying it aligns with everything she stands for in her work.
“If you don’t move it, you lose it,” she said, stressing the importance of staying active to maintain health. “He’s running for the cause of everything I promote.”
Tremblay believes his journey is inspiring people to get moving, which is the same advice she gives her patients to help them stay strong and well.
“When he continues along his journey, I hope he has just as much luck encountering good people and that he reaches his goals,” Tremblay said.
Through his Movement for Movement, the Fellow in Yellow encourages all Canadians to embrace mobility in whatever ways they can. He hopes his cross-country trek will motivate individuals to start their own health journeys, proving that a little inspiration and community support can go a long way in helping everyone achieve better health and resilience.
