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After all these years, Eddie walks again By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Saturday, March 14, 2009 S pring is coming and so is Eddie. Oakville's green pilgrim, Eddie Williams, 57, is preparing to once again undertake the time-honoured St. Patrick's Day tradition of a 40-kilometre walk from Toronto's City Hall to a bar in downtown Oakville. This will be the 33rd time Williams has undertaken the great excursion. "I'll be trying to do this as long as I possibly can," said Williams. "I'd be very, very happy if I could do it until at least 2011 because not only will I have walked this tradition the longest, 35-36 years, but I'll have walked it in five decades, through the '70s, '80s, '90s and so on." The ritual, which Williams honours so passionately, dates back to 1922 when a group of prohibition weary Irishmen made the trip from Toronto to Oakville in search of bootleg green beer. The memory of this great trek was initially kept alive by walker Charlie Priestman, who passed the responsibility on to Barney Heard, who in turn undertook the walk for 20 years before collapsing during a St. Patrick's Day snowstorm in 1976 in Mississauga. Heard was driven to Oakville that year, but completed the walk the next year for the final time. Williams joined Heard for that walk and promised to keep the tradition going. He has been true to his word. "I've had people say, `You're the guy who brings spring in,' because it's only four days before spring and I'm all dressed in green," he said. "For the first six months after I do it, people stop me and ask me if I did the walk and then for the six months leading up to the walk people ask me if I'm going to do the walk this year." While Williams has been walking all these years to keep the tradition alive, he notes this walk is going to be different as this year, the need of those in the community is greater than ever. "Because of the economic situation I'm basically walking with the homeless people in my thoughts," said Williams. "It's a very, very sad situation where, in a country like the one we have, we have people and families who are living in poverty." Agatha Platiel, 71, one of the walkers who will accompany Williams this year, is taking this sen- LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER HITTING THE ROAD: Eddie Williams will be making his annual pilgrimage from Toronto City Hall to Oakville on St. Patrick's Day. timent one step further and is hoping to use the tradition to raise awareness and support for Home Suite Hope, a local charity that helps the homeless. Platiel noted this initiative has already raised $1,000 for the cause. "I would like to see this tradition become more than just tradition itself," said Platiel. "There is so much need, especially in these hard times. I believe we should help whenever we can." Whatever the cause, Williams notes the walk will go ahead rain or shine on Tuesday with Williams and any walkers who accompany him leaving Toronto City Hall at the stroke of 9 a.m. Williams said it might be a difficult walk this year due to a foot injury he is experiencing. "I have a lump on the bottom of my foot. My doctor wants to operate, but I'm the type of guy to tries to put that off as much as I possibly can until it comes to the point where I really can't walk at all," said Williams. "It's uncomfortable ... but once I start it (the walk) no matter how long it takes me I plan on finishing it. I may be a while, but the finishing line is in Oakville and even if it's after dark I will make it." Williams laughed noting that the revelation that he might have to slow down actually came as a relief to those he will be walking with. Williams left them far behind during last year's walk. As uncomfortable as this year's walk might be, Williams notes it will be nothing compared to 1981 when he didn't have proper footwear. "I was going from tree to tree. That's how bad my feet were, my feet were actually bleeding. I had these rubber boots on and after that year I never wore rubber boots for that walk again," said Williams. "I was so determined that if I had to crawl to finish the walk I would have." For this year's walk Williams is hoping for cooler weather with not too much wind. Williams notes the support of the community always gives walkers a valuable morale boost. "The closer we get to Oakville more people are honking their horns and truck drivers are waving at you. People stop their cars if there's no one behind them and wave and yell, `Way to go.'" "It's really encouraging when you get that because you basically need that after all the walking you did. It just gives you that much more support." If all goes well, Williams hopes to reach his destination at the Prime Time Sports Bar at 234 Lakeshore Rd. E., between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. After Platiel has completed her journey she will be proceeding to the Coach and Four, located at 2432 Lakeshore Rd. W., which has agreed to help in her Home Suite Hope fundraising efforts. After his 33rd walk is complete, Williams notes he will have little time to celebrate as the journey is an exceptionally draining one. More than likely he will enjoy a glass of orange juice at the bar before heading home. "It is a painful walk for me," he said. "I am very happy when I am finished. In all the years I've done it there have only been one or two where I've felt good enough to dance the night away." Williams notes he always appreciates company on his walks and anyone who wants to join him can call him at 905-690-8154. Anyone seeking more information about Home Suite Hope can call Wendy Perkins at 905-339-2370 or visit www.homesuitehope.org.