Ole George to hang up boots after final walk

Vincentian world record holder Earl “Ole George” Daniel will be returning home next month for a final long distance walk.

Daniel, who currently resides in Montreal, Canada, is part of a group of overseas based Vincentians who are looking to make a difference where HIV/AIDS and other health related issues are concerned.

He will be returning to his homeland to deliver care packages to those in need, and to take it ‘a step further,’ by doing a threeday walk, from February 3 to 5. This walk, according to Daniel, will be his way of saying goodbye to an exciting career of distance walking.

“What better way to do it than for a worthy cause and in the presence of the very people who were there to witness the first historic event,” said Daniel.

He further stated that this walk will be done with walking partner Joel Butcher, who walked with him from 2005 to 2008. He said that the walk will be his way of helping to bring much needed attention to the rising cases of HIV/AIDS and diabetes and also mental health.

“The group is called ‘WE VINCY’ and was newly formed in Montreal, and is comprised of Vincentians who share the same concern for persons living with HIV/AIDS and diabetes in St Vincent and who have mental health issues. We hope that our efforts will serve to improve the standard of living to these people and bring some hope to their world.

“We have embarked on collecting food items and whatever else that is needed to make life easier for them. We are also going to propagating the message of a healthier lifestyle while we are at it.” Daniel said.

Other members of the group include Steve ‘Daddy Ghost’ Victory, Monica Homer, Stephany Etienne, Hilton Smith, Garvey Thomas, among others.

Daniel, who is a trained clinical social worker and who currently works in the Arctic region of Quebec, Canada, among the Inuit people, said that this walk will be very significant, and he hopes that all Vincentians will come out to salute him and Butcher as they walk through their communities.

“It will be the end of a very exciting era and certainly the closing chapter of a very important part of Vincentian history,” he added.

Daniel and Joel Butcher plan to walk from the Windward and Leeward ends of mainland St Vincent, with ventures into the Marriaqua and Vermont valleys, following which a rally at Victoria Park will be held.

“The rally will be about bringing awareness to the HIV/AIDS situation in St Vincent and also to encourage a healthier lifestyle so as to prevent more cases of diabetes. There will also be a focus on mental health. The overall message here would be we need to be our brother’s keeper,” said Daniel.

“I am encouraging all walking groups/clubs, sporting organizations, health enthusiasts and anyone who is concerned about the present health situation in the country to come out and join us as we walk. Let’s do this together.”

Daniel accomplished similar feats here at home in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 and has walked in several other Caribbean Islands (Jamaica, Grenada, St Lucia and Barbados), with the biggest of the walks being in 2008 in Brooklyn, New York, when he and Butcher walked around Prospect Park for eight straight days, challenging the Guinness World Record for the longest walk without sleep.

In 2012, Daniel completed a five and a half day dance marathon in Nunavik, Northern Canada, to bring awareness to suicide.

“It’s my hope that what we are about to embark on would bring the much needed attention to these very important health issues in my homeland, and that people will see that these issues affect us all,” Daniel said.

He is appealing to others to come on board with this initiative, and to contribute of their time, talent and treasures, in an effort to make the initiative a success.