PEORIA - Tom Brewer has begun the third year of his four year journey to raise funds and awareness for OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. The money raised will help provide resources for pediatric research, emergency services, neonatal care, and technology development.
The ultimate objective of Tom’s Walk4CHOI is to walk a path that will mark a cross over the state of Illinois to bless and support the healthy development of young lives.
In 2018, Tom walked 128 miles from Rockford to OSF Children’s Hospital in Peoria. In year two, his trek started in Danville, covering 132 miles from the eastern part of the state.
This year, the goal is to walk the 113 miles to the west, connecting to OSF HealthCare’s hospitals in Kewanee, Galesburg, and Monmouth.
Tom started this year’s walk on Wednesday, May 13. Usually there is a big send-off with regular, planned segments along the way. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he is having to break this year’s walk into segments with limited participation by others. His initial treks will include Galva, to Toulon, to Princeville.
Other segments starting at OSF Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, and OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee will be scheduled at a later date after restrictions are relaxed. That will also include the traditional walk with supporters joining Tom for the last mile around the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois campus in Peoria.
In its first two years, Tom’s Walk4CHOI has raised over $24,000. The goal this year is to raise $15,000. Matching funds will be applied to the first $7,500 donated.
Contributions to Tom’s Walk4CHOI can be made online or by mailing a check made out to OSF HealthCare Foundation, Attn: WALK4CHOI, 530 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61637
For more information on Tom’s WALK4CHOI and his walk progress, visit his Facebook page.