For the second year in a row, an Okanagan College professor will set out Wednesday on what is this year an even more ambitious six-day trek in an effort to raise money for local student Gary Baker, who suffered a massive brain aneurism last August, and who remains in critical condition in Vancouver General Hospital following nine surgeries, extensive treatments and therapies.

Dr. Tim Walters, an English professor in the Resistance and Revolution program at the Salmon Arm campus, aims to walk between the Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton campuses and then back again91裸聊视频攁 distance of 330 kilometres91裸聊视频攕etting out Aug. 30 and arriving at his destination Sept. 4.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e known Gary and his family for several years, I91裸聊视频檝e watched them struggle bravely to deal with this for the past year, and I91裸聊视频檓 very motivated to do anything I can to try to help him and his family,91裸聊视频� explained Walters.

Baker, a Salmon Arm father of four and a volunteer firefighter, was until recently a student at Okanagan College, having returned to school to pursue a career in engineering after years of working as a timber framer. On Aug. 1 2016, he suffered a massive brain aneurism while playing soccer, and after an enormously difficult year he may still take many months or even years to recover.

91裸聊视频淭he Bakers were and remain valued members of our college community,91裸聊视频� said Walters. 91裸聊视频淗is family has battled an unimaginably awful situation for over a year now, and one of the challenges we can help them with is the financial costs his wife and four daughters have had to take on as a result of moving to Vancouver to provide Gary the daily care and support that he needs.91裸聊视频�

Although a keen hiker, Walters will average 55 kilometres on each of the six days of his fundraising walk, double the distance he walked last year, and further than he has ever walked before.

Last year the community donated just shy of $14,000 for the Bakers, 91裸聊视频渨hich was amazing and inspiring,91裸聊视频� Walters says, 91裸聊视频渁nd I91裸聊视频檓 really hoping we can top that this year.91裸聊视频�

Sponsors wishing to donate can do so at the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/campus-to-campus-fundraising-walk. Walters will be posting photographs, videos, and regular updates of his progress on a Facebook group page91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频淐ampus to Campus Fundraising Walk91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频攕o sponsors and supporters can follow him along the way.

Gary91裸聊视频檚 wife Erica writes that Gary was making great improvements after undergoing nine surgeries, extensive treatments and therapies, as well as fighting through unending complications and infections. He had begun to take a few steps and was finally able to communicate, speaking occasionally but mostly through a blinking system.

91裸聊视频淗e said things that were so 91裸聊视频楪ary91裸聊视频� and everyday impressed us with how intact his memory and cognitive abilities were. After one complication where he was very sick, I re-explained to Gary the aneurysm and why he was in the hospital. I asked him if he had anything he wanted to ask about it and his response was 91裸聊视频楢re you in pain?91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淗e has always been selfless, and even in the midst of not being able to do anything he previously had (walking, talking, moving, seeing), he still thinks of his family91裸聊视频檚 well-being first. Most recently, on a particularly hard day, Gary told me, 91裸聊视频淲e have to take turns being strong.91裸聊视频�

She explains that at the end of July, almost one year to the day of his initial admission to Vancouver General Hospital, Gary ended up back in the Intensive Care Unit when an infection suddenly triggered seizures that would not respond to medications. On Aug. 8, Gary again underwent surgery and had a brief reprieve from the seizures but they returned.

91裸聊视频淭he prognosis from the doctors varies, some doctors are hopeful and willing to keep trying, others have strongly told me that Gary has no chance of recovery. We know Gary is still strong and we believe he would still want to fight to come back to his family so we chose to fight for him and to hope!91裸聊视频�

She expresses her gratitude to the community for the man she describes as an incredible man and an amazing husband, father and friend.

91裸聊视频淗e has an incredible family who love him to the end of their strength. He also has a fantastically supportive community who have made it financially possible for us to be with Gary in Vancouver for an entire year. Thanks for continuing to stand with us in this long and difficult battle.91裸聊视频�