A light rain that began falling in the middle of the afternoon could not dampen the spirits of the more than 30 walkers who gathered Sunday for Alongside Hope’s Wild Ride in the Anglican Diocese of Algoma’s Algoma Deanery.
Participants began their walk from three Anglican churches in Sault Ste. Marie: St. Luke’s Cathedral, Emmaus Anglican Church and Holy Trinity Anglican Church. From their respective starting points, the walkers made their way to Bishophurst, the historic residence of the Anglican Bishop of Algoma.
Bishophurst has been the home of the Bishop of Algoma since 1876, and this year marks its 150th anniversary. The historic property provided a fitting destination for the walkers, who were welcomed by a team of volunteers who had prepared a barbecue. The gathering offered an opportunity to enjoy food, fellowship and conversation while celebrating the shared purpose that had brought everyone together.
The walk was part of Wild Ride, an annual fundraising campaign of Alongside Hope.
The Algoma Deanery team took part in the 2026 Wild Ride to raise $5,000 toward the purchase of 70 solar panels for St. Luke’s Hospital in Nablus on the West Bank. Across Canada, Anglicans are participating in Wild Ride events and challenges, with an overall goal of raising $60,000 to support this important project.
The solar panels will help St. Luke’s Hospital maintain essential services and provide reliable power during outages. One panel costs $865, which includes the cost of installation, maintenance and other related costs.
As of August 28, the Algoma Deanery campaign had raised $5,385, passing the original goal of $5,000.
The Algoma Deanery team was led by Noah Mittleholz, a member of the Alongside Hope Youth Council. Speaking at the barbecue, Noah thanked everyone who participated in the walk and those who had already made financial contributions to the campaign.
He also encouraged anyone who had not yet donated to consider doing so, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that St. Luke’s Hospital has power when it is needed most. In critical moments, reliable electricity can make an enormous difference for patients and medical staff.
The walk also coincided with Refugee Sunday in the Diocese of Algoma, a day set aside for prayer and reflection on the experiences of refugees and displaced people around the world.
Reflecting on the gathering, the Most Rev. Anne Germond, Archbishop of Algoma and Moosonee and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario, said the walk showed how even a simple act of walking together can become “a powerful expression of faith, community and solidarity.”
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Support the Algoma Deanery Wild Ride team directly through CanadaHelps
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