Voices Influencing Change and the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition (YAPC) are excited to support a fall Walk-a-Thon by Patrick Jackson and friends.
Patrick, his dog Bennie and friend Richard Lawrence will spend 12-14 days walking 200 km along the Nahanni Range Road through the traditional territories of the Kaska Nation.
“I’m really looking forward to this walk. The Nahanni Range Road is about as remote as you can get in the Yukon, even compared to the Dempster Highway,” says Jackson.
Patrick has previously raised money for the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition and Whitehorse Connects through two similar walks. In 2021 Patrick travelled 405 km along the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle and raised $13,000 for YAPC. His second walk in 2022 from Dawson to Whitehorse raised almost $25,000.
“The previous two walks have been a tremendous success for both Patrick and the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition,” says Kristina Craig, Executive Director of YAPC. “We can’t thank Patrick, Richard and Bennie enough and for being such an inspiration to us all. Their walk is partially sponsored by a number of local businesses for which we are also thankful.”
Patrick’s goal this year is to raise $15,000 for Voices Influencing Change. Fundraising for Voices helps provide direct support and training to people with lived experience of poverty and homelessness in the Yukon.
“I’m happy that our fundraising efforts will help the Voice program and their work in the community,” says Jackson.
Voices members will be hosting a kick-off lunch for Patrick, Richard and Bennie on Friday, August 30th from 12:30p.m. to 2p.m at the YAPC Office at 509 Hanson St. There will be opening remarks at 1p.m. (Please note the lunch is not a public event)
The trio will be starting their walk on August 31st and the fundraising campaign will continue until the end of September.
To donate, please visit https://go.dojiggy.io/nahanni/Campaign/Details
Voices Influencing Change is a program for people with lived experience of homelessness, poverty and other forms of social exclusion. Initiated in 2017 by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition (YAPC), this program provides leadership training, advocacy opportunities and peer support. You can find their booklet here.