www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 29, 2016 | 14 Road to Rio is a journey worth making for Kelly by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Inez Kelly longs for the day that Spanish poet and dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca's words become a reality. "The day that hunger is eradicated from the Earth, there will be the greatest spiritual explosion the world has ever known," said the Oakville resident, quoting what Lorca had said in the 1920s. "Humanity cannot imagine the joy that will burst into the world on the day of that great revolution." Kelly, who was born and raised in Oakville, says she simply wants to see, in her lifetime, a better world where everyone is fulfilled in their lives, with food on the table and surrounded by people that they love and who love them in return. "That is what's in my heart. That's what I want to convey," said the 60-year-old. "This is what is possible for humanity." Kelly will be drawing on her convictions as she laces up her shoes on July 31 to embark on a 35-kilometre walk from St. Andrew's Church in Oakville to Ireland Park in Toronto. She will be joined by two friends, Erika Richter and Beverley Speechley, for the full journey and several others for the first few kilometres to draw attention to the 795 million people who are currently malnourished worldwide, according to RESULTS Canada Power to End Poverty. Kelly has been volunteering with RESULTS Canada since the 1980s. It is a citizens' group committed to ending extreme poverty by advocating for programs and improved policies that give the world's poorest people the health, education, and opportunity they need to thrive. "I am quite passionate and committed to the idea and fulfillment of a world where every man, woman and child thrives in an environment of peace and where all our basic needs are met," said Kelly. The walk she will be embarking on is part of RESULTS Canada's Canada-wide Road to Rio Challenge from May 20 to Aug. 4, which calls on Canadians to use their collective voice to motivate world leaders to pledge political and financial support for ending global malnutrition. This will take place on Aug. 4, the eve of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Those taking the challenge will walk, run, and roll a collective 9,000 kilometres, the distance between Ottawa and Rio de Janeiro by Aug. 4, while asking friends and family to make a donation to RESULTS Canada along the way. The goal is to raise $50,000 to help RESULTS Canada in its advocacy work. Kelly says she's already walked about 150 kilometres training for her walk from Oakville to Toronto, which was inspired by her Irish Inez Kelly ancestors, who immigrated to Canada in the 1840s during the Irish potato famine. She described that, one morning, she opened her eyes, and "Walk to Ireland Park was what came to me." Laying in contemplation, she thought of her family's plight from Ireland to Toronto. "They came because of hunger and malnutrition from the potato famine and Ireland Park commemorates the Irish that came to Canada and came to Toronto. Tens of thousands landed on the shores," she said. "I am so very proud of my Irish ancestry and the strength and courage it took for them to carve out the future I am now blessed to experience," she said. "This, I believe is true and available for all nations. I am walking with a hand stretching from the past, my past, to our future. A world where every man, woman and child flourishes in peace and free from hunger and poverty. I invite all to embrace the idea and commitment to end hunger and poverty on our planet," she said. Kelly's walk will start around 10 a.m. after she attends mass at St. Andrew's Church, which was built by the Irish in 1840. She hopes to arrive at Ireland Park, located at Bathurst Street and Queens Quay, and which was built to celebrate the story of the Irish in Canada. To find out more about this challenge visit: http://results.akaraisin.com/RoadToRio. To support Kelly, visit: http://results.akaraisin. com/RoadToRio/InezKelly. Canada Post disruptions may begin this week Direct to Door Delivery Dependable Direct Mail Solutions · Reliable delivery each week · Cost effective · Targeted distribution across Ontario · Friendly customer service Is your business ready for the possible Canada Post strike? (416) 495-6622 · metroland.com