Sean Jacklin, 21, is riding his bicycle coast to coast -- 4,660 miles (7500 km) -- in an effort to shine a light on a topic many people find difficult to talk about, raising awareness and funds for the hospice movement across Canada. As the second cyclist to organize a solo tour supporting end of life care, Sean knows it is hard to raise money for something no one likes to talk about. He had already raised $10,000 before leaving the province. He had already raised $10,000 before leaving his home province of Victoria.
Sean Jacklin, 21, is riding his bicycle from coast to coast — 4,660 miles (7500 km) — in an effort to shine a light on a topic many people find difficult to talk about, raising awareness and funds for the hospice movement across Canada. As the second cyclist to organize a solo tour supporting end of life care, Sean knows it is hard to raise money for something no one likes to talk about.
"End-of-life care isn't something you think about when you're 21 and strong," says Jacklin. "But now I realize it's a very important program that flies under the radar and that's what I'm hoping to change."
Many hospices in Canada need donations to operate, with only half of their operating costs covered by the health-care system. The rest come through donations, mostly through estates or at the request of families who have benefitted from loved ones dying in such a dignified, caring environment.
Sean's journey started in his hometown of Victoria, BC on June 5th and will end in September in St. Johns, Newfoundland with the goal of raising $50,000 for the Victoria Hospice Society. He had already raised $10,000 before leaving the province.
It wasn't until Jacklin had committed to the ride that he discovered a personal connection. "My mom said, ‘You know, your Grandma Carey spent the last three weeks of her life in the Comox hospice" (north of Victoria).
Jacklin has received plenty of positive feedback during his 27 days on the road so far. "The support has been overwhelming. Having someone come up to you in tears, hold your hand, and say you're doing a wonderful thing is the most rewarding feeling."
WATCH the inspiring CTV video, and continue reading below…
Along the way, he's accepting donations for any of the hospices across Canada, including the Victoria Hospice.
Jacklin stresses that the end goal is to raise funds, but the key by-product is the awareness of it all. "This subject should not be so taboo, it has touched and affected a high number of people, and it needs to be recognized. In Canada, 70% of all people who die from some form of terminal disease spend time in a hospice."
Jacklin has faced many elements along the way and expects many more; however, he won't give up. "To ride solo, unassisted, across Canada is a definite challenge that has me pushing the limits, but it's more difficult to imagine someone spending the last weeks of their life without someone helping and comforting them."
You can follow Sean's Cycle of Life Tour on his Blog, and donate, at www.cycleoflifetour.ca
A bereaved husband painstakingly planted a tribute to his late wife, Janet using 6,000 oak trees to imprint a giant heart-shaped meadow in the middle of his 112-acre farm in South Gloucestershire, England. In a sudden flash of inspiration to mark her legacy, Winston Howe hired a gardener and spent weeks planning and setting out each oak, carefully creating an acre-long heart, which points in the direction of Janet's childhood hometown.
A Brooklyn girl with autism is safe thanks to a fast-acting neighbor who came to her rescue. The 7-year-old crawled out of her window and was dancing and singing on top of an air conditioner before she tripped and fell from the ledge. City bus driver Steve St Bernard, 52, was waiting below with his arms outstretched and managed to catch the girl, preventing disaster.
A World War II hero from Maine gave himself a 90th birthday present — his first skydiving jump from an airplane. Lester Slate, of Exeter, said he wasn't nervous as he strapped on a parachute, although he'd never jumped with one even during his more than 40 years flying for the Navy and the Coast Guard.
A national non-profit group, Flashes of Hope, photographs children who are facing serious health issues, in an effort to change how they view themselves. To date, more than 22,000 children have sat for portraits by skilled artists who know how to capture the spark in each person. The portraits, taken by award-winning photographers who volunteer their time along with make-up and hair stylists, preserve forever the beauty, grace and dignity of the children and their families.
Former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, still recovering from wounds after being shot last year, traveled high up into the French Alps on Monday with her astronaut husband Mark Kelly.
President Barack Obama visited with survivors of the deadly Colorado shooting spree, and shared a moving, heroic account of two girls, best friends whose bond was stronger than fear or panic.
A site called Imgur was designed to share photos with social networks and online communities. Take a look at this amazing collection of photos depicting the beauty of mother nature and the best of human ingenuity...
A gifted musician who was shot in the head during the "Dark Knight" massacre last week will likely not sustain any major brain damage thanks to a birth defect that her pastor called a miracle.
Be the first to comment