101-year-old WWII veteran walking 101 laps to raise $101,000 for kids affected by COVID-19

OAK BAY (NEWS 1130) — 101-year-old World War II veteran John Hillman knows that when a global crisis hits, children suffer.

That’s why he’s walking 101 laps around the courtyard of his retirement home to raise $101,000 for charity.

He’s pacing himself, doing five laps a day around the courtyard of Oak Bay’s Carlton House for 20 days

Monday morning –using a walker adorned with a heart flag honouring healthcare workers, being cheered on from a distance by family and neighbours– he finished his first five laps.

“After each round he’s marking down a stroke on a chalkboard, and after every five he’s stopping. It’ll continue the same each day,” says Shelley de Hoog, with Carlton House.

By Monday night, he’d raised more than $11,000.

In the days leading up to Hillman’s first five laps, anticipation was building among residents and staff.

“The mood here has just been building for the last couple of days. This COVID isolation is getting tough on everyone, and this is kind of taking their mind off of it.”

“Especially for John, it’s given him a purpose. I would say it’s rejuvenated him.”

The thing that’s been hardest on Hillman is being unable to visit Irene, his wife of 78 years who lives in a nearby care home.

“What has been particularly hard on him is that he’s been isolated from her so he can’t go visit her. He’s trying to tell her by phone what he’s doing,” de Hoog says.

Hillman’s fundraiser was inspired by Capt. Tom Moore another centenarian WWII veteran who has raised tens of millions of dollars for the National Health Service.

RELATED: WWII veteran, age 99, raises millions for UK health service

“He noticed watching the fundraising over there in England that Captain Moore … wears the Burma Star. John Hillman is also wearing the Burma Star, they both served in Burma (Myanmar),” de Hoog explains.

“John wanted to represent Canada and do something for Canada. Through his life, through war he noticed that it’s the children who lose out. He felt there was a need for someone to help the children. So, that’s why he chose the charity he has.”

Hillman is raising money for Save the Children Canada’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.

De Hoog says he moved into the retirement residence just before celebrating his 100th birthday. Until he moved in, he was driving a car and serving as the head of his condo’s strata council.

“He’s just amazing because he is very calm, very level-headed – just such a gentlemen. He is loved by all the residents here. I’ve just never met a finer person.”

Because Carlton House is an independent living facility residents are not required to isolate in their rooms like those in care homes.

“They’re distancing, but they have the comfort of everyone under the same roof. So, they can still see people and talk to people. We’ve opened up the courtyard so residents still have exercise classes outside six feet apart.”

Still, Hillman’s 101st birthday was on April 1, and no one could visit him.

“As John was isolated from family and his closest friends, we made him King for a day to celebrate this special occasion,” says a blog post from Carlton House.

“To all of us here at Carlton House John is truly a King among men, one of the most kind, thoughtful and respectful humans on the planet!”

Videos of Hillman’s daily laps will be posted on the Carlton House Facebook page.