Jill Dockrill adopted 3 year old Tom Wilkinson in 1981. He soon began acting out violently; once Tom began school, it was even clear that he was struggling with a serious and complex problem. When Tom was 13 years old, after numerous diagnoses, and medications, Tom was eventually diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
In 2001, motivated by another individual’s fundraising efforts, Tom and his dog Shadow, set out on the first Tom’s Walk – an 1800-km cross-province trek from Windsor to Ottawa, and 24 cities in between. His goal was to raise awareness for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and to raise money to open the first FASD residential treatment and education centre in Canada. He receiving much media coverage and got the opportunity to meet thousands of people, spreading his message of awareness and hope. In total, he raised approximately $20,000 through this first effort.
Every year since 2001, Tom and Shadow embark upon Tom’s Walk. In 2002, Tom walked from Trenton to Belleville; in 2003, they walked across the city of Belleville. Again in 2004, Tom and Shadow walked from Trenton to Belleville, and 2005 saw them walk within the city. In 2006, Tom and Shadow again walked the 1800 km, and visited the 26 cities as they had done in 2001. In 2007 and 2008, Tom, Shadow and participants have completed a walk across Tom’s and Shadow’s hometown of Belleville, Ontario.
On April 20, 2007, the walk was extended to include the Tyendinaga community. 310 walkers from Quinte Mohawk School on the Tyendinaga Territory joined Tom in a walk from the school to the Mohawk Community Centre to help raise funds and awareness for FASD. Together, they raised over $4000 for FASTEC Inc. See photos from this walk in the gallery below.
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