Hiking the Bruce Trail on journey to improved health
Jon Tamlin, a local Creemore man, will be backpacking 166 kilometres from Wiarton to Tobermory along the Bruce Trail to fundraise for the Canadian Celiac Association.
“The goal, for me personally, is to be a good example of a healthy celiac that can live out of a backpack not worrying about food and diet, and being able to make good arrangements and menu planning,” said Tamlin.
Tamlin, 39, said he is looking forward to the hike and time outdoors. He has loved camping since he was young, and studied outdoor recreation in college.
He has been a firefighter in Toronto for 11 years. This past spring, Tamlin made the decision to do this fundraiser. He had been wanting to do a large trip, and the timing worked out for taking off work and using the trip to raise money for a good cause.
This is Tamlin’s first personal fundraiser, although he has previously hiked in Northern Ireland, British Columbia, Algonquin Park, and the Bruce Trail.
According to Tamlin, the best way for him to train for this fundraiser is just lots of walking. He has been training for a while for the hike, which will start in September, 2018.
He said one of the biggest issues he expects to face will be eating away from home, as he himself was diagnosed with Celiac in September 2016.
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, Celiac is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten damages the surface of the small intestine so that it cannot absorb nutrients properly. It can cause negative symptoms that can last for days if gluten is consumed.
He wants to raise money that can be used by the Canadian Celiac Association to improve diagnosis, as he was diagnosed late.
Tamlin said because of the possibility that his kids might later be diagnosed with Celiac, this is an important cause for him to help. His family has been supportive of him throughout this. His wife, Jessica, and his children, Ben, 9, and Marin, 7, will be joining him on parts of the hike, as they also enjoy the outdoors.
Tamlin said he wants this to be an example to the public to show them that when they face challenges in life, there may be positive ways to make the best of it and not let it slow them down or stop them from living.
His financial goal is to raise $10 for every kilometre he backpacks, which will add up to $1,660. For people who wish to donate to his cause, he has a fundraising page, “Celiac Adventures 2018” on canadahelps.org.
Tamlin will also be taking pictures during his hike, and they will be displayed at the Creemore Festival of Arts on September 29 to 30 at 18 King St., Creemore.
