Ian Bos started taking a new approach to life after his father was diagnosed with cancer one year ago.
Living in Victoria at the time, he began visiting one park a day and taking photos to show his recovering dad.
For 200 days straight, Bos visited parks, walking anywhere from 20 to 30 kilometres per day.
So when it came to walking 40 to 50 kilometres per day on a trek across Canada, Bos was up for the challenge.
Oct. 26 marked day 157 — the final day — of Bos’ cross-country hike from New Glasgow, N.S. to Victoria to raise awareness for hospice and palliative care.
“My dad was the inspiration,” Bos said, while stopping by the Langley Hospice Society on day 155 of Ian’s Walk for End of Life Care.
“I lost my dad in January and I wanted to do something to honour him. So few Canadians have access to this care.
“I knew very little about palliative care until we needed it, I think that’s the case for a lot of Canadians. And in fact, I would argue that we got it too late, because his quality of life improved dramatically in the last couple of months that we had it.”
Through the course of the walk Bos has gone through six pairs of shoes, had run-ins with Canadian wildlife, and met hospice workers from across the country.
“The people I’ve met are amazing,” he said.
“Some of the most humble, dedicated, and passionate. It’s really an honour to be able to shine the spotlight on what they do. They really are heroes, I have to say that. They didn’t just look after my father, but they looked after my whole family, and that says volumes about what they do.”
At his stop in Langley, Bos was joined by Langley hospice volunteer Roy Clements, who recently completed his own hospice walk on the Wainwright Coast to Coast and throughout England in memory of his wife, Doreen.
Clements, who is in his 70s, is currently training for the 800 km El Camino de Santiago from France to Spain in Clemo’s Crusade for Hospice.
“It’s the aftercare as well. The Langley hospice has been there for me seven days a week,” Clements said.
“It takes a certain caliber of person to work at a hospice. Not everyone can participate in the care, it takes a special type. The people are amazing.”
To donate to Ian’s Walk for End of Life Care or for more information, visit www.ianswalk2015.ca. For more on Clemo’s Crusade for Hospice, visit http://clemoscrusade.wix.com/home.
