Grant Beacock has met a lot of people during his walk from Beaver Creek, Alaska to Chilliwack, B.C. His mission is to raise awareness for seniors' loneliness one step and one city at a time.
He arrived in Quesnel and told the Observer when he was 12-years-old, his dad put out an ad looking to "adopt an elderly gentleman for Christmas and special occasions," said Beacock, noting the phone went crazy.
"We ended up adopting our grandpa Bob," he said. Beacock recalled fond memories of barbecues with his family, including his grandpa Bob. "The other part of the phone calls is that my dad managed to place 20 families - 20 families - three days before Christmas with elders."
He said seniors have a great deal to offer the community but people don't ask them to contribute and seniors tend to become lonely as they grow older.
"I was just thinking about mom and my mother-in-law, how their social circle got really, really small. Really, really quick," Beacock said. He said if someone would have asked his mother to help with something, she would have jumped at the opportunity.
"We're not asking these seniors to help us in our community. We're not utilizing the resource, it's there. Just ask them. They want to help, they want to be useful, they want to be part of the community," he said.
Throughout his walk, Beacock has met people who shared positive experiences with seniors in their lives. People who mentored them in their jobs, helped them to succeed and listened to them. He's also heard from people who wish they had grandchildren, but for whatever reason they didn't, or couldn't.
He's hoping to hold events at his friend's farm in Chilliwack, where his walk will end, so seniors can meet with community members and groups who might start to utilize their experience and willingness to help.
The 66 year old has undergone some challenges during his walk, but was met with kindness.
"My cane had duct tape on the handle, duct tape holding the tip on. It was the wrong size. I couldn't find the size I needed," he said of the blue cane he started his journey with. Now, he walks with a pink one gifted to him from someone named Anna while he was in Charlie Lake.
He also ran into problems with the wagon he pulls behind him. The first one's back wheels wore off nearly 500 kilometres into his journey. He got a new one in Whitehorse which he could change the wheels on.
"Then just a couple days ago I was sitting on the side of the road, roasting a hot dog and I hear a big pop," Beacock said. "It was my own wagon that had popped. I wasn't even moving. It was just sitting there and it just split the centre of the tire." He said he met people named Cliff and Leah who drove by shortly after. The pair drove Beacock into town and bought him a replacement tire, as well as a spare.
Beacock recalled other stories of people offering help and giving him tokens to take on his walk.
"Dave. He took the ring off his finger. I didn't want to take his ring but he was quite insistent. Chris (from) Fort St. John. He gave me his Leatherman knife, which I needed to fix my wagon. Steve who gave me a cross that he made. He took it right off his own neck," he said it's an overwhelming feeling to have people give him meaningful belongings to take on his walk.
Not only have people offered objects of importance, but people have given Beacock food and covered his accommodations. He made it very clear that he doesn't ask for any of it, the walk isn't a charity, but he accepts support when it's offered.
While in Quesnel, Beacock camped at the RV park, saying beds aren't as comfortable as sleeping outside now that he's gone months of mostly camping. Local businesses like Granville's Coffee and Super Save Gas have met with Beacock and offered food. He's also been very happy to chat with members of the community and share his message about seniors while hearing their stories.
One of the people he met was a farmer in Hixon named Bruce who is 81.
"I asked Bruce 'how old are you' he says 'I'm 30,'" Beacock recalled. "See 66, 81, is just a number. I still want to do what we did when we were 20, when we were 30. We might not be able to do as much, as quick. I tell people I'm made of steel, just rusting from the inside out a bit."
Beacock has had four heart attacks and said he feels lucky to still be alive and able to do his walk. When he started it was slow, but he's been able to get further and further without breaks as he's continued his walk.
"When I started I could only walk 20 feet. Twenty feet, pull my wagon, take my little chair out, put it down, sit down for about two or three minutes. Another 20 feet," he said. "I pull (my wagon) with my left hand and I walk with my cane in the right."
Beacock will continue on his walk through Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and on until he reaches Chilliwack.
