Residents and the broader community are being invited to participate in this year’s Shelby Neale Walk for Kids, kicking off at Waterworks Park in Brantford, on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
The third annual walk is a tribute to Shelby Humble-Neale, who tragically lost her life at 27 after a tree fell and struck her camper during a severe storm at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area in May of 2022.
Her loss was a devastating blow to her loved ones and the community but for those who knew her, she is remembered for her kindness, caring nature and outgoing spirit.
“She just had this welcoming energy,” said Debbie Neale, Shelby’s mother. “I’ve heard that from several of my friends and other people I’ve run into, that when she walked in the room you could just feel her energy.”
A graduate of Mohawk College’s early childhood education program, it was Shelby’s love and way with children that inspired her family and friends to start the memorial charity walk in support of the SickKids Foundation.
“One day when she was younger, we were sitting in the garage and someone had come by asking for a monthly donation for SickKids. While I had originally turned them down out of habit, it was Shelby that stopped me and said ‘mom, I think this is something we should do’ and so we’ve been donating to SickKids ever since then,” said Neale. “…She loved children and children loved her, they were literally her passion. She was a dancer from the time she was small and she taught dance so she was really known for her ability to get kids to participate. If one of the students were nervous or crying, she would get on their level and whisper in their ear and all of a sudden they would jump up, hold her hand and come into the room and have fun. She really had a way with them.”
Neale said to honour her memory, they chose to host the walk at one of her daughter’s favourite places.
“The reason we hold it at Waterworks Park is because It’s a place that meant something to her. She spent time there and she did this walk herself quite often with friends or her boyfriend,” said Neale. “Sometimes they would throw in a raft or a canoe and go down the river, sometimes they would just spend some time at the dam or fish and whatnot but the walk was the main thing she enjoyed so much. Shelby’s boyfriend at the time, he put in a memorial bench, a large rock with a memorial plaque and an oak tree planted as well.”
Since 2022, Humble-Neale’s loved ones have managed to raise over $21,000 in support of the foundation and are looking to reach their goal of $50,000.
“Our goal is to reach $50,000 and the reason for that is if we hit that number, we will get to put a memorial plaque on the wall at SickKids in her name,” said her mother. “Of course, after we reach the goal, we want to continue the walk for as long as we’re able and we’re thinking of donating locally to anything to do with children. Anything to just remember the impact in the lives of children that she made.”
On the day, the event will kick off at Waterworks Park and run from 10:00 a.m. until noon.
Neale said that participants are welcome to take part in the full walk or can walk for however long is suitable for them.
“There’ll be a sign at the parking lot just before the trail starts and then there’s a pavilion partway down the walkway where we’ll be set up,” said Neale. “While supplies last, we’ll provide coffee, timbits and bottles of water. We’ll also have t-shirts for sale, we have bracelets we give away and my husband will be there to take any cash donations. We’re hoping to have maybe one or two musicians just kind of playing a guitar and then we’ll talk for a few minutes about Shelby and SickKids and then we’ll get on our way and start the walk.”
Overall, Humble-Neale’s loved ones said they’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the walk and are grateful for their support in the effort to keep her spirit of kindness and compassion alive.
For more information on the event, to register and how to contribute, please visit:
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/a05305a5-dc80-4121-901c-08fdd43b2aff or contact Debbie Neale tanneranddeb@rogers.com
