From The Guardian – theguardian.pe.ca
Instead of going from tip to tip on P.E.I., as they say, Danny Murphy plans on going from Tim’s to Tim’s.
The owner of D.P. Murphy Inc. and the lucrative Tim Hortons empire on Prince Edward Island will lace up his sneakers on Monday, May 17, to walk across the province in an effort to raise money for Island hospitals.
The walk will begin in O’Leary at Community Hospital and finish in Montague at the Kings County Memorial Hospital and it ties into the 30th anniversary of Murphy’s company.
“We wanted to do something to give back because of all the support Islanders have shown our business,’’ Murphy said at a news conference on Thursday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was joined by representatives of all seven Island hospitals.
He starts walking every morning around 7:30 a.m. and will go as far as he can until about 5 p.m. that same day. The walk resumes the next morning from where Murphy left off the day before. He’ll keep going until he reaches Montague’s hospital.
Of course, it’s all about raising money. Islanders are being asked to donate to the Walk for Island Hospitals campaign. D.P. Murphy Inc. has promised to match all donations up to a total gift of $100,000.
“If you decide to give $3, $30 or $300, I will match dollar for dollar.’’
Funds raised will be split among Community Hospital in O’Leary, Stewart Memorial Hospital in Tyne Valley, Western Hospital in Alberton, Prince County Hospital in Summerside, QEH in Charlottetown, Souris Hospital and Kings County Memorial Hospital in Montague.
The money each hospital gets will be a percentage based on the number of beds they have. There are more than 500 beds in total among the seven hospitals.
Murphy expects the walking to be a tad lonely so he’s hoping people join him along the way, even if it’s just for a kilometre or two.
His plan is to walk 25 to 30 kilometres per day. By the time he’s finished Murphy will have put 150 kilometres on his sneakers’ odometer.
Al Green, chair of the Kings County Memorial Hospital capital campaign, says he plans on spending some time on the road with Murphy. “It is a big contribution from a very successful company,’’ Green said of Murphy’s promise to match dollar for dollar. “Not every company would be willing to do that. It’s really nice to see a lot is coming back into the heritage and development of the area.’’ Green’s committee is currently trying to raise money to purchase a new X-ray machine for the hospital.
Donations:
There are several ways Islanders can donate to Danny Murphy’s Walk for Island Hospitals, beginning Monday, May 17:
— Call 1-877-856-WALK (9255). The pledge line will be available all week from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
— Join Murphy along the route and make a donation.
— Donations will be accepted at all Island Credit Unions and Tim Hortons restaurants.
— Donations can also be made online at www.qehfoundation.pe.ca
— Official tax receipts will be issued for cash donations of $10 or more.
