Zach Rusk, from Okotoks, will be tackling the Great Divide Trail (GDT) starting July 12 with his friend Mark Mitchell, fundraising for the Alberta Sports & Recreation Association for the Blind (ASRAB)
A Calgary-area man is embarking on a monumental hike along the slopes of the Canadian Rockies to raise money for athletes with blindness.
Zach Rusk, from Okotoks, will tackle the 1,200-kilometre Great Divide Trail with his friend Mark Mitchell; a feat inspired by Rusk’s dad losing his vision after a hunting accident in 2020.
The multi-week journey that will begin July 12 will stretch from Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta to Kakwa Provincial Park in British Columbia.
“I never thought I’d actually have the chance to do it . . . I just figured it would have to wait until I was retired — just because kids, work and everything,” said Rusk.
Hiking and the outdoors were a part of Rusk’s life long before he decided to make the trek.
“We were always an outdoor family,” said Chris Rusk, Zach’s dad. The family would hike together when they lived in New Brunswick.
“Chris and the boys did a lot of camping and just kind of shorter hikes, outdoor activities,” said Sharon Rusk, Zach’s mom. “I think Zach’s love of hiking just sort of developed when he moved out to Alberta as an adult.”
There’s a lot that goes into the kit for Zach’s trip, and cracking open his bag would reveal usuals like a trekking pole tent, sleeping pad, down quilt and pillow.
“Those are the big four, then after that it’s just my extra layers, rain gear, battery banks, headlamps, warm gear if I need it,” Zach said.
Fundraiser ‘a fabulous surprise’ for benefactor
Zach knew from the beginning that he wanted the fundraising element to be something for people with blindness.
After attending a blind hockey game hosted by Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind (ASRAB), he later decided they would raise funds for the organization’s mission to support visually impaired athletes of all ages.
Zach said ASRAB helps kids with visual impairments — who can’t play sports with other kids — get equipment.
“It gives them the resources to be able to play sports,” he said. “I see what vision impairment has done to my dad, and there’s kids who are dealing with the same thing.
“If any dollar whatsoever is able to give them more resources and basically help them in that community, it would mean a lot,” Zach said.
ASRAB executive director Linda MacPhail said they weren’t aware of Zach’s plan until receiving a confirmation email about the fundraiser.
“It was a fabulous surprise, just got the note that somebody’s started a fundraiser for us and the donations — really generous donations — came in very quickly,” said MacPhail.
“We’re really honoured that he thought of us,” she said.
The funds are discretionary, meaning they can be used as needed, where needed.
“(We) will be using it for children’s programming and adult programming,” MacPhail said. “We’ll try to do some programs with his dad, Chris, in mind, of how we can help get him out and about.”
Family rallied support for Chris since accident
Following 35 years of military service, Chris retired in 2015 but kept an active lifestyle between hunting, cycling and more.
On Dec. 15, 2020, Chris was out alone hunting ducks along the Bow River.
“This other guy was out hunting and he saw my movement, and he shot me,” Chris said. “He did not mean to shoot me.”
The man who shot Chris stayed with him until the air ambulance came and was later charged, according to Sharon.
After being airlifted to Foothills Medical Centre, where Chris stayed for five months following the accident, he spent another five months in a brain injury centre in Ponoka.
The accident left him blind and partially paralyzed.
He has no functional use of his right arm and his right leg is also affected; he still requires a personal trainer three days per week.
“The pellets (from the shot) went into the eye, then one pellet went into the motor cortex of the brain,” Sharon said.
Zach and his elder brother, Josh, both stepped up after the accident, said Chris.
Now living with his parents, in part to help with his dad’s care, Zach regularly takes Chris out for walks.
“Our boys, it was really tough on them — I mean it was tough on all of us, but it was really tough on them,” Sharon said.
“Their dad was such an active guy, you know? It has brought our family closer, too, it’s brought out the best in both the boys.”
Chris’ mom, stepdad and sister all eventually moved to Alberta to help with his care.
“I’m grateful to my family that has come out here to help me . . . and Zach. I hope this journey goes well,” Chris said.
“It’s hard being in the black all the time and, you know, I get up in the morning in the dark and I go to bed in the dark and it is what it is,” Chris said. “I’m blind now, and that’s my lot in life.”
— With files from Brent Calver