Marcus Hiscock has this paper thermometer.
He first drew it in 1998 when he and his wife started the annual Flame of Hope Walk for Diabetes Research in honour of grandsons Matthew and Cameron Flynn of Gander.
The 75-year-old Buchans man has used the thermometer ever since to track the amount of money he has raised in the 22 years of the walk. Each years’ total for money raised is written on the roughly-drawn graphic.
Some years the five-kilometre walk has raised more money than others, but bit by bit, the total has grown.
“It is a good thing,” said Hiscock. “It makes you feel good.”
Hiscock hit a milestone in his 22nd year of fundraising in aid of diabetes research.
With the $9,9820 collected for the walk this past October, he has now raised over $150,000 for diabetes research.
Hiscock contributes that incredible amount to the people who give freely to the campaign. A great deal of the money comes from people in and around Buchans, as well as other parts of the province.
It is around the end of the summer when people start asking when he is going to do the walk. Usually, at that time, Hiscock will also start receiving donations.
“We’ve been very successful and it is because of the generous people in these towns that have been supporting this walk for years,” he said. “It makes you work a little bit harder.”
Over two decades is a long time to be doing anything and one has to wonder how long Hiscock will keep the walk going.
He is getting older now and walking five kilometres probably isn’t getting easier with age.
Still, Hiscock is committed to raising money in honour of his two grandsons for as long as he can.
“The two boys have been very active ... with hockey and baseball and everything else, and I feel that if they can do that and cope with it, the parents as well because they’re checking them constantly, I said as a grandparent I the least I can do is make a real effort getting sponsors and then organizing and carrying out the walk."
