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Richmond Olympian pounding 25K a day for 25 days for the kids

One moment he was nowhere to be seen, the next second, as if by magic, he appeared. Richmondite Evan Dunfee may be an Olympic race walker, but he moves faster than many people can run.
Alan Campbell

One moment he was nowhere to be seen, the next second, as if by magic, he appeared.

Richmondite Evan Dunfee may be an Olympic race walker, but he moves faster than many people can run.

The Richmond News “caught up” with one of Canada’s favourite Olympians on the Middle Arm Dyke Trail in the morning shadow of the Olympic Oval.

Stretching his wiry frame and pumped up, Dunfee was already two kilometres into his daily diet of 25K, a routine that he’s 11 days into, with another 14 to go.

It’s all part his bid to walk 25K a day for 25 consecutive days to raise $25,000 for KidSport – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary – seeking $25 donations and giving motivational talks at 25 local schools. Hopefully, you see the thread.

“I walked to Vancouver last week for an appointment, in all my (professional) walking gear,” KidSport ambassador Dunfee told the News.

“I had a couple of days where I just walked through the Terra Nova neighbourhood; I did 25K around Terra Nova, it took just over two hours. I had to keep checking if I’d walked through the same street over and over again.”

Former News columnist Dunfee put Olympic race walking on the world map during the 2016 Rio Games when he sportingly denied an opportunity to appeal the result of the 50K race, which would have seen him take home a bronze medal.

Less dramatic is the route Dunfee is taking each day to complete his 25K.

“It totally depends on where I have to go that day,” he added.

He’s raised more than $4,500 of his $25,000 goal so far, but is getting an assist from the 25 local schools on his speaking tour, where he’s telling his story, talking about goal-setting, KidSport and about sport in general.

“The goal of $25,000 was optimistic, but with the help of the schools, you never know,” he said.

“Many of (the schools) are in Richmond. Kingswood students are trying to raise $1,000 so they can pie their principal. That would be nice.”

A donation of $25 will go “a long way to getting more kids playing sport,” Dunfee said on his fundraising blog.

To donate to Dunfee’s cause, go online to DunfeeWalks.com.

KidSport is a national not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance for registration fees and equipment to kids aged 18 and under.