We all know that NT grads are out in the world making a difference. Just as we were finalizing our content for this issue, we received the following inspiring report from Harry McMurtry (’81) and knew it simply had to be shared among the NTCI alumni community:
My first day at NTCI was 40 years ago. These many years later, my connection to the school and its alumni remains as strong as ever. My NTCI roots run deep: I spent five years at the old campus; my mother attended the school as did all five of my siblings; and I keep in touch with dozens of its graduates. NTCI was (and still is) a special place. More importantly, it produces special people.
One of those special people is Sue (Lougheed) Thompson (’83). On May 7, 2016, Sue and I will embark on our quixotic journey from New York City to Toronto to raise money for Parkinson’s research. The walk is the centrepiece of a project called 500 Miles for Parkinson’s, which is also aimed at boosting awareness of this neurological condition. Both Sue and I have been diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). We will be joined on the 500-mile walk by Dr. Ross Sugar of Baltimore, MD, who also has YOPD. We created a video to promote the walk (https://youtube/WQSd4KjK4xI). (The video was made before Sue and Ross joined the team.) The walk will be preceded by a launch event in New York City on May 6, and followed by a celebration in Toronto on June 22. To learn more about the walk and related events, please visit our website: fivehundredmiles.org.
Few schools, public or private, can boast of more successful
alumni than NTCI. I do not think that this occurred by accident. I believe that the values instilled at NTCI serve its graduates well throughout their adult years: pursuit of excellence, creativity, diligence, community engagement, and empathy. All of these values have contributed to the creation, organization, and anticipated success of 500 Miles for Parkinson’s.
NTCI alumni have infiltrated every aspect of 500 Miles:
- Financial support: Ian Hull (’81), Janet (Macrae) MacInnis (’55), Andy Filipiuk (’81), Ria (Macrae) McMurtry (’52), James Swayze (’82)
- Graphic art: Bernice Lum (’82)
- Volunteer coordination: Kirsten Sixt (’83) and Julie Cowan (’83)
- Administrative support: Lisa Pen (’82)
- Organizational support: John McKay (’81), Adriana Christopoulos (’81), Ben Hawkins (’81), Phil Hargreaves (’81) and Geoff Linton (’81)
- One of our celebrity ambassadors, Ashley (Nicoll) Holzer, attended NTCI.
- We are also receiving support from across the continent: Jim Maedel (’81) in Vancouver; and Harvey Levine (’81) and Simon Halls (’82) in Los Angeles.
You too can participate in this undertaking. You can become a sponsor, donate, buy tickets to an event, or volunteer. I believe that participating in charitable activities has concurrent benefits: it advances the cause; it makes your community stronger; it strengthens friendships; and it nourishes your soul. At the very least, it spreads a little of that Red and Grey magic.
—Harry McMurtry (’81)
fivehundredmiles.org