He left Wickenburg late last month and has been making his way north ever since.
Through his updates, either on Facebook, his blog or in news stories published in American newspapers, it’s clear the MS Society couldn’t have asked for a better spokesperson. Van Tighem is a powerhouse.
He’s knowledgable, enthusiastic, personable, passionate and always up for getting the job done.
In his seven years of fundraising for multiple sclerosis (MS), he’s washed cars, cleaned out mouldy beer cans and flipped burgers, and he’s raised $145,000.
It’s that dedication to the cause and his can-do attitude that make him such a great face for the organization. And it also makes him a great face for Jasper, because goodness knows while he’s out there talking to people about his journey and his cause, he’s also telling them about his hometown in the Rocky Mountains.
We, like the MS Society, are so lucky to have someone like Van Tighem on our side. He’s someone who comes up with an idea and runs with it, and every step along the way—even if he’s tired out or hurting—he puts on a smile. In fact, he’ll gladly run himself into the ground before he gives up.
And that’s not just true with his fundraising efforts for MS. It’s also true when it comes to his contributions to the community, whether that be as the fire chief or as a member of the Jasper Rotary Club.
Van Tighem is always there when we need him. That’s why it’s so important that we as a community step up and return the favour.
As of Tuesday, Van Tighem was only at 17 per cent of his fundraising goal, with $15,914. That leaves $77,086.
Before he left, Van Tighem said, if every person he met along his journey just donated a dollar, all of those bills in the United States and loonies here in Canada would add up quickly.
If everyone in Jasper donated a dollar, that would be about $5,000. But in the interest of speeding things up a wee bit, why not change that figure to $10.
If everyone in Jasper committed to donating $10, that would add up to nearly $50,000, bringing Van Tighem’s total up to $65,914, well over halfway to his goal of $93,000.
The chief is set to peddle into town next Wednesday, May 15. That gives the community less than a week to surprise him at the finish line. So, let’s all pack one lunch this week, and use our extra money to show him some support. There’s no doubt he’d do that much for each of us.
