100-year-old vet embarks on walk for homeless veterans
Tom Hennessy, a retired Air Force veteran and World War II Spitfire pilot was looking for a cause to mark his 100th birthday in May.
“I was reading a magazine two months ago, and it was about homeless veterans. And the very last line said, and so we've got to do something,” Hennessy said during a break from the charity kick off. “I said to Joy, my partner, ‘Joy, I got it. Now I know what I can do for 100 years is I can go and do a walk and raise money for homeless veterans.’”
Hennessy exercises daily and started with a goal of 100km, but after quickly reaching that goal, he checked in with his friends at the legion and told them he was going to up the goal to 100 miles (160km), and plans to finish his journey on Canada day.
On Tuesday, he logged some of those kilometers while looping around Victoria Park, joined alongside London North Centre NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan, London Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan and other members of the public.
WWII Air Force veteran Tom Hennessy begins his walk around Victoria Park alongside London North Centre NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan, London Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan, and other members of the public on on June 14, 2022. Hennessy is raising money for homeless veterans. (Marek Sutherland/CTV News London)
“It's about 95 miles now. The last walk around here [Victoria Park] on Friday of Canada Day that will put it all into the 100. So we want to bag it on that day,” Hennessy said.
The fundraiser has already raised $12,000 as of Tuesday morning, before the official start of the campaign.
But there is no specific goal he would like to reach other than getting as much help for homeless Veterans as possible.
To learn more and to donate to Hennessy’s cause, you can visit his GoFundMe page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.