.jpg;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000)
Every day in Canada, someone will be seriously injured or worse, lose their life in the workplace.
Steps for Life Sault Ste. Marie attracted six teams representing 87 walkers for its annual five-kilometre walk to support families affected by workplace tragedy.
The event raised $4,899 with funds generated through on-line donations, community sponsorships and pledges raised in person and submitted on-line then pledge forms turned in that day.
Those who turned out shared one common thread; they knew someone affected by workplace tragedy or a life-altering injury, whether it was a spouse, a son or daughter, a parent, a sibling or friend. Safety-conscious companies, organizations were also present.
Among the teams registered was the Mac Lee Memorial team. Mac is my brother.
Eleven team members, including myself, walked in memory of a loved one taken far too young and far too soon due to a work place accident. As a team, we raised $2,825 for the cause.
The team was made up of Mac's and my sister, Jo-Ann Zimmerman and her family, including one family guest.
Mac – also known as Malcolm or Mackie – grew up in Sault Ste. Marie.
As a young man, he worked a variety of jobs, but mainly in auto glass installation.
In his spare time, Mac loved the rodeo life. As a member of the Ontario Rodeo Association he rode the circuit both in Canada and the USA competing in bull riding, bronc riding and steer wrestling.
His passion for the rodeo led Mac to a rare opportunity, to perform as a stunt double for Patrick Duffy in the show 1980's TV drama Dallas - an experience of which he was very proud of.
On Aug. 16, 1986, Mac, married the love of his life, Sarah, in East Bethany, New York. Three weeks later, on Sept. 10, 1986, Mac, started a new job on a construction site.
On the second day on the job, Mac lost his footing while adjusting the planks on the scaffolding he was standing on and fell 32-feet to his death.
Mac was not wearing a safety harness at the time. The company he was employed by failed to provide any.
That day, Sarah became a widow, Mac's mother lost her only son, and his sisters, Jo-Ann and I lost our big brother. Mac was only 30 years old.
It has been 30 years since Mac was killed and not a day goes by that we don't miss him and think of how different life would have been had Mac not lost his life in a workplace tragedy.
Since Mac's death, the Ontario Rodeo Association (ORA) annually presents the Most Improved Steer Wrestler Award in memory of Mac Lee.
I met a lot of wonderful people Sunday and heard many heart-breaking stories.
Event organizers encouraged participants to read each of the 25 signs that lined Memory Lane as they proceeded to walk the 10 laps around the Jo Forman track.
Mac's memory will remain in the hearts of his family and the ORA and Steps for Life. A sign is expected to be place on Memory Lane for the 2018 walk.
Created in 2004, Steps for Life is the flagship fundraiser for the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support, known as Treads of Life.
The annual event raises funds to provide peer support programs and services for Canadian families who have suffered as a result of workplace tragedy and also raises awareness about the importance of workplace health and safety.
This year, Steps for Life will take place in more than 30 communities across Canada.
Five thousand walkers participated across Canada in 2016 raising more than $600,000 for Threads of Life's family support services.
All proceeds from Steps for Life support Threads of Life, a national charitable organization dedicated to helping families to heal after they've been affected by a traumatic workplace fatality, life-altering workplace injury or occupational disease.
Currently, Threads of Life supports more than 2,500 family members from across Canada.
To learn more about Threads of Life log onto www.threadsoflife.ca.