Chester woman helping the fight against cystic fibrosis

These days, Linda Gooding is doing a lot of walking, but it’s not for herself.

It’s for Hugh and it’s for Talia. It’s also for people she’s never met.

Gooding, who lives in Chester, is taking part in this year’s Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History on May 29. Now in its 17th year, the walk raises awareness for the disease, helps support research and access to medicine, among other initiatives.

“Across Canada, there are numerous teams that have been set up to do the walk. In Nova Scotia, unfortunately there aren’t that many teams,” Gooding says. “I wanted to organize what I could get donations for my friends down on the South Shore.”

While Gooding doesn’t have cystic fibrosis, her childhood friend Hugh did, as does a current family friend Talia Lee. Gooding recently reconnected with Lee and discovered she also knew Hugh which not only led to a personal link for Gooding, but also her team’s name: Hughtalialinda.

“Once she told me about her connection to Hugh, I just started researching CF Canada because I’m retired now I’ve got a lot of spare time,” she says, adding her goal is to raise $1,000.

Gooding’s run into a few issues getting things set up, including starting later than other teams. Fundraising is also slow, but she is optimistic. Originally, to promote her efforts, she thought of pinning a sign to her body as she walks.

“I felt that would maybe endanger me walking. I wouldn’t want people to watch read the plaque card (and) not watch me walk. I decided not to do the plaque card thing, but I wave at people, and they wave back,” she says. “They don’t know what they’re waving at or why I’m waving to them, but it just gives me momentum to keep moving.”

She’s sent out emails to organizations and businesses to help garner support and is also taking donations via her personal Facebook page.

To prepare for the May 29 event, Gooding walks about three times a week. While her steps vary, she says she’s achieved a personal best of 18,000 steps and often does the trails in and around Chester.

She’s also looking for a few more volunteers, as she already has a couple, to join her on the day of the event.

“There’s no timeframe for the walk. You walk half hour; you walk an hour; it really is of no consequence,” says Goodling. “It’s up to each individual’s athletic ability and how much they want to walk.”

Regardless if she reaches her goal or not, Gooding says she wants to do the walk again next year.

“I will certainly be more experienced the time next year rolls around,” she says.

For more information on the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History visit: https:// advocacy.cysticfibrosis.ca/. To help support Gooding, search her on Facebook at Linda Ann Gooding.