Prince George, B.C. – Organizers of this weekend’s seventh annual ‘Red Shirt Walk of Honour’ are hoping for a better turnout than last year.

The walk, which asks participants for a $20 donation for a red shirt, raises money for Winch House – a Vancouver based ‘home away from home’ where families of burn victims, first responders, veterans or military people can stay free of cost while receiving medical care in the Lower Mainland.

The Walk is organized each year by the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 43, and spokesperson Harry Ulch says attendance dropped to about 80 participants last year. He’s hoping to see 200 to 300 this year.

“To keep this event going, the attendance needs to improve. I think a lot of the problem is I think we’re not getting the word out good enough.”

The park will be lined with Canadian flags to honour those who lost their lives while serving for Canada in Afghanistan. There will also be a flag to honour BC Reservist Private Kirby Tott of Prince George who died last summer while on a training mission in Manitoba.

He adds the walk has been shortened this year in an effort to make it more accessible.

“We’re going to stay right at the band shell, if you can’t walk too far it’s okay to make a loop around the band shell.”

If you don’t have $20 to spare, Ulch encourages you to attend regardless. He says to wear red if you can and notes there will be entertainment and a concession type barbecue on site.

The event will take place at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park near the band shell on Saturday. Registration is at 9 a.m. while the event is slated to start at 10 a.m.