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PUMPED DAVIDSON RESUMES JOURNEY
August 10, 1998
John Davidson is leaving home again.
After being back in London for four days -- a brief break from the 117 days on the first leg of his cross-Canada trek to raise money for genetic research -- Davidson heads north from the Richmond Street gates at the University of Western Ontario today to continue Jesse's Journey -- A Father's Tribute.
They were a fruitful four days -- he added about $310,000 to the $400,000 he had already raised during his trek that started in Newfoundland in April.
He said he hopes the success in his home town will mean people in other parts of the country will "get to know what this is all about."
Until now, Davidson has kept up momentum knowing he was heading home, and although he said leaving again will be tough, he isn't worried about losing steam.
"It's the same momentum heading out," he said at a stop in St. Thomas yesterday. "Only now I'm going home and I'm going home to stay."
2,500 CHEER
Davidson stopped at Pinafore Park on Elm Street in St. Thomas yesterday for a rally and fund-raising drive that brought in an estimated $25,000 to $30,000. He raised $286,780 in similar rallies in London on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. His goal is $10 million to set up an endowment that would generate $1 million a year for gene research by the time he reaches the West Coast in January.
Davidson, who has averaged about 35 kilometres a day since his journey began, said the campaign will start targeting corporate sponsorship in the coming weeks.
As Davidson entered Pinafore Park, a crowd of about 350 greeted him and walked behind him, cheering to the bandshell where another 2,500 people had gathered.
As he walked through the crowd, dozens of people shook his hand and offered contributions, including Andrew Graham, 8, of St. Thomas, who had been collecting change for weeks in anticipation of the event.
"It was just really important for us to be here," his mom, Sherri-Lynn Graham, said as she fought back tears. "I'm just thankful my boys are healthy."
Davidson was pumped by the size of the crowd. "And I thought London was a big crowd. Wow!" he told the cheering crowd as he took to the podium.
"I like to think that Jesse's Journey is gaining momentum. We go every day and we won't stop until we get it done."
After speaking, he left the podium to greet the crowd, many of whom approached him with donations and well-wishes.
Several cheques were presented by the Rotary Club of St. Thomas, St. Thomas police, the Canadian Auto Workers local 2168, the London Red Cross, two St. Thomas Royal Bank branches and the patients and staff at the St. Thomas-Elgin Hospital and Continuing Care Unit.
A group of grade 9 students at St. Joseph's high school in St. Thomas gave Davidson a $5,000 cheque. The money was raised as a tribute to one of their classmates, Andrew McConnell, 14, of Aylmer who, like Davidson's son, Jesse, suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
MONDAY:
8:30 a.m. - Leaves UWO Richmond Street gates
9 a.m. Masonville Mall for a rally / send-off
Next - Cheque presentation at the Arva Post Office
Noon - Burr for a raffle draw
3:30 p.m. - reception at the Lucan Firehall
6 p.m. - Walk around the Oakwoods in at Grand Bend
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