“Karen’s Quest” passing through

Jun 03, 2010

Sherry Welsh and Stewart Stanley pass through Godfrey on May 27on their Quest to Ottawa

Down the Westport Road, east of Godfrey, I recently came across two lone travelers, one a woman on foot, followed by the other, a driver driving slowly behind in a truck laden with flags and a sign that read “Karen’s Quest“.

On foot was Sherry Welsh from Scotland, Ontario, near Brantford, and behind the wheel, Stewart Stanley from St. Williams. The two departed from the Lions Camp Dorset near Huntsville on May 1. The day I met them was day number 27 of their 37-day walk that will take them 600 kilometres to their final destination, Parliament Hill.

Sherry is a member of the South Brant Lions Club and the director of corporate fundraising for Lions Camp Dorset, which is the only camp in Ontario that caters to families with a member requiring kidney dialysis. The camp, operating for 30 years, is funded by various Lions clubs. The camp runs for 13 weeks each summer, providing full medical staff and dialysis equipment for individuals with kidney disease. It also provides accommodations for their families.

Sherry informed me that the goal of Karen’s Quest is three-fold: to collect donations for Lions Camp Dorset; to bring awareness to Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplants; and to give an opportunity to high school students to contribute their community service hours.

For Sherry, the walk is of a personal nature. It is named in honour of her sister, Karen Manary Klassen, who passed away a decade ago from kidney failure. Before Karen succumbed to the disease, she had a chance to spend time with her husband and two daughters at Lions Camp Dorset. “She absolutely loved it,” Sherry recalled.

This is the third annual Karen’s Quest that Sherry and Stew have undertaken and in the last two years together they have raised over $70,000; $4000 of that has come from the collection of empty liquor bottles they pick up along the way.

Currently the camp is in need of 20 new dialysis machines at a total cost of $200,000.

Sherry and Stew plan to reach Ottawa on June 6. Members of the RCMP will lead them to Parliament Hill where they will be greeted by other Lions members and, they hope, a “slew of bag pipers” to bring attention to their cause.

As we wrap up our interview a heavy downpour erupts. I dash back to my car, Stew climbs back into his truck and unfazed, Sherry just grabs a raincoat from the truck and continues on. Their next stop was to be Westport, where Lions members were providing them with free accommodations and meals.

Supporters can become involved by joining the walk, donating empty bottles or by making donations.

For more information visit www.lionscampdorset.on.ca or call the camp at 705-766-2780. Sherry can be reached directly at 519-909-9780 or 519-446-2408, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..