Gutsy Walk doubles its goal, raises $23K for bowel disease

It takes guts to introduce a new fundraiser to the community, and Rob Trembinski thought “it was really poopy we don’t have a Gutsy Walk.”

That all changed on Sunday when the real estate agent invited dozens of supporters under the Roberta Bondar Pavilion to participate in the Sault’s first-ever Gutsy Walk – an annual event held in cities across the country in support of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Having faced a personal and severe battle with ulcerative colitis as a teenager, Trembinski rallied the community to help bring attention to the disease and remind those living with Crohn’s or colitis that they are not alone.

When SooToday last spoke with Trembinski in May, the event’s honorary chair was hopeful the city could raise $10,000 – a number he believed at the time was modest and attainable for the first Gutsy Walk.

But the Sault smashed that number as locals collectively raised over $23,000 in about five weeks – nearly half of which had poured in over the last week.

At the event, the weather did not disappoint as participants walked a sunny and warm 5-km route along the boardwalk towards the Machine Shop, and then back to the pavilion.

The Sault’s Gutsy Walk achieved 230 per cent of its original goal, which was the highest of any walk in the country. They also had the most participants in northern Ontario.

All funds raised will go towards research efforts at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, as well as to providing patients with a number of support services.