A “Earth Angel” continues to shine helping out with the Highway of Heroes.
Cobourg resident Lorna Dickson first met Kerri Tadeu during the Spring clean of the Highway of Heroes in 2018 which was also Earth Day on April 22.
Dickson was cleaning an area near a relatives property in Wesleyville, and Tadeu, Master Cpl. (Retired) Colin Fitzgerald and others were in the process of cleaning on and off-ramps of the Highway of Heroes from Trenton to Toronto when they met Dickson.
It was “fate” Dickson would later say about the two groups of people met along the highway.
Dickson learned that the group who clean the highway collect alcohol containers and return the empties to The Beer Store and donate the money to MADD Canada in hopes of bringing awareness that countless individuals actively drink and drive on North America’s busiest highway.
So far, they have donated over $550 to MADD since adopting the Highway of Heroes.
Dickson who is an avid walker took the idea and for the last six months put the word out that she was collecting empty alcohol bottles and cans along walks, at events or anywhere people may discard them.
She has also held two 50/50 draws and received support from her United Steel Workers Union Of America Local 889 collecting over to $750 to help support our Highway of Heroes Adoption Four One Hundred & Fifty-Eight in honour of Major Michelle Knight Mendes cleaning 344 km of scared soil twice a year.
“It goes to a good cause and it sure beats putting them in the recycle,” said Dickson.
“It’s going to a good cause and it’s a team effort because without all these people who have given me these I couldn’t be giving them to the Highway of Heroes.”
“People at my work have been very giving. They are behind the Highway of Heroes and are very supportive. It’s coming through myself, but it’s a whole team behind it.”
On Monday, October 8, 2018, Tadeu and Fitzgerald drove down to Cobourg to pick up the empty alcohol containers that would fill Tadeu’s family van.
“I really, truly believe Lorna is our Highway of Heroes Earth Angel,” said Tadeu.
“She cares very much about the environment, she cares very much about local causes.”
“It’s a blessing to have her in our lives.”
Tadeu said when she first saw Dickson along the cleaning along the Highway of Heroes she was inspirational.
“Being committed to her community, giving back and cleaning up the environment. I’m really, really grateful our paths crossed.”
Since PPCLI Veteran Bruce Frampton’s sponsorship from CannaConnect and MedReleaf that pays for gas when the group cleans the Highway of Heroes during the Spring and Fall clean, the $750 Dickson collected was donated to Project Trauma Support in memory of Major Michelle Knight Mendes to help servicemen and women to help themselves in this life saving program.
“Mic shined bright in life and my personal mission is for her to shine just as bright in death and affect change in her honour,” said Tadeu.
“Many hands make light work and I am grateful for Lorna and her big heart.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
