Tillsonburg Kidney Walk 18th in the province
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A target of $3,000 had been set for Sunday's Kidney Walk in Tillsonburg - and they doubled it.
"Actually, right now, we're just a shade over $6,200," said Greg D'Hulster, local contact person for the annual event which started at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital at 10 a.m.
"I'm ecstatic - it was a very good turnout," said D'Hulster. "Good numbers and a good amount of money raised."
Numbers were better, he said, with 73 registered walkers, up from just over 50 in 2015.
Provincially, the Dyl Pickle Team, walking in memory of Dylan D'Hulster, a two-time kidney transplant recipient (who the Tillsonburg event was renamed after in 2015), was ranked 16th overall for funds raised.
Greg D'Hulster also noted the Tillsonburg Kidney Walk was 18th out of 40 in fundraising across the province - a list topped by Toronto West and Scarborough.
"Not bad for a small town like Tillsonburg. I feel like we did very well for the size of the community."
That's not per capita, he noted, but total funds.
The local Kidney Walk is roughly 5 km taking a winding path from the hospital to Hickory Hills, to Quarter Town Line, up the hill on Baldwin Street and back to the hospital on Rolph Street.
New this year, the walkers were accompanied part of the way by a drone.
"I don't think he (Jesse D'Hulster) went the whole course, just because the battery won't last that long. I think he got about 11 minutes of it."
Greg posted on social media one of Jesse's group photos taken in front of the hospital using the drone just before the Walk started.
"He said 'more to follow,'" said Greg, looking forward to more from the unique perspective.