DAY EIGHT: THE FINAL STEPS

With only 15 kilometers left today to complete the 298 kilometer journey from Calgary to Edmonton, the Walk for Darfur crew met in a parking lot on the south side of the city awaiting the beginning of the Welcoming Walk. Throughout the year, we have been promoting this as a day for the community to come out and walk with us the last of the 400,000 steps. 

Shortly before 1pm, hundreds of people began showing up. Busloads of students came from out of town, avid dog walkers with their pooches in tow, and a host of strangers who heard from word to mouth of a walk and rally, for the people of Darfur.

We began the walk, complete with a police escort, and the team was inspired from the amount of support from friends, family and strangers alike. Our feet felt light, and our hearts were filled as we marched throughout the busy Edmonton streets shouting in protest of the situation in Darfur.

As one of the reporters put it, it was the biggest movement for the people of Darfur in Western Canada. The noise by hundreds of people chanting, cheering and honking for the plight of Darfurians was infectious, as people jumped out of their cars, or simply stood dumbfounded at the mass of people on the march. 

On the last kilometer, our finishing point (Grant MacEwan College) came into view, and the twenty-five individuals who were a part of the Walk joined at the front of the line. The difference between this day and the previous seven, was the voices and energy of the hundreds of people behind us propelling us to the finish. 

We chanted, cheered and cried as the journey ended as we reached the school. The walk was followed with a rally as local musicians and Arthur Romano, a dedicated peace activist, took to the stage and inspired the crowd with words and music.

Our symbol of sacrifice was finished, but we know that the situation is far from being solved. Although our walk has ended, we continue to hold the people of Darfur in our hearts and thoughts.

I truly believe that through movements like this across the globe, we can end an atrocity like the one in Darfur. Whether it's using our voices, our talents, or simply just our feet, we can make a positive change in the world.

This is only simply the beginning. 

We walked for peace. We walked for action. And we walked for the people of Darfur.