Grandpa Bob gives a thumbs up during his fundraiser walk on Algonquin Avenue on Saturday afternoon. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
With a Motor home at the front and a SUV at the back, Bob Facca made his way up the hill on Algonquin avenue heading towards highway 17.
It's a steep climb for any 65-year-old, but for Bob Facca it's all in a days work.
The London, Ontario native, who arrived in North Bay Saturday morning, is walking from Quebec City to Winnipeg in hopes of raising money to help find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Distrophy.
For Facca, known by the name of "Grandpa Bob," the disease hits very close to home.
"My grandson Louie was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Distrophy about 3 years ago, so as a grandparent or a parent you want to do something to see if you can help," said Facca during a lunch break near the Farmers Market in downtown North Bay.
Facca was also inspired by John Davidson, who is the inspiration for the Duchenne Muscular Distrophy Fundraising organization "Jesses Journey."
"John Davidson is from London, and I'm from London and I saw what he did as he walked across Canada about 20 years ago. First he pushed his boy in a wheelchair across Ontario then he took the challenge to walk across Canada so he could fund research to find a cure for the disease which has no cure right now.
"My grandson has it and I had to step up too and do what I could do and I just felt this was what I should do and follow his legacy," said Facca.
Facca appreciates all the support he has received across Quebec and Ontario so far and he says he will never complain about any of his pains or ailments during this very long walk.
"My challenges are nothing compared to what the children have so I know what I am all about too so we get out there and complete this journey so we can raise the money so my pains will all go away at the end of the journey where these kids the pain doesn't go away until we find that cure."
Facca says so far they have raised more than $600,000 during the walk.
