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A centenarian and Canadian veteran is honored for his annual Charity has died on Vancouver Island.
John Hillman makes headlines every year as he walks around Carlton House in Oak Bay over 10 days to celebrate his birthday and raise money for charity.
Hillman walks around the estate once for every year he lives. In 2023, he walked around the estate 104 times.
All funds collected by Hillman Go to Save the Children’s emergency relief fundBy the last march of the year, Hillman had raised $460,000.
Staff at Carlton House confirmed that Hillman died peacefully on Monday morning.
“We are all so grateful to have known John and to have called him our friend. He lived an unforgettable life of service to others and it was truly the honor of my lifetime to be able to help him,” Jacqueline Prewett, digital marketing manager for Carlton House, said in an email.
“He will be missed by many, but we know his spirit will live on through the lives he impacted and the positive change he brought to the world.”
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Hillman moved to the Veterans Memorial Home in Victoria this year because he needed more care.
He hadn’t been able to complete his annual project, but for the sake of tradition, he ran a lap around the house.
“I’m in good health, but I’m not as functional as I once was,” Hillman told Global News in March.
“So I did a walk as a reminder of the past. About 50 people came to walk with me.”
Hillman’s inspiration comes from the UK Captain Tom Moorehe is also a World War II veteran.
Moore became an internet sensation during the coronavirus pandemic when he walked around his backyard during lockdown to raise money for the U.K.’s National Health Service. “Captain Tom” initially aimed to raise £1,000 but ended up raising £33 million ($40 million CAD).
Prewitt said Hillman’s fundraising page remains open and active, and the veteran’s wish is that people continue to support his activities for Save the Children during his lifetime.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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