Step By Step's 8th CAMPAIGN Torch Of Life April 14, 2010 - TORCH OF LIFE On April 14, 2010 in Washington DC, George completed 25% of Step by Step's 7th Campaign SOSTheAmericas. The bank was taking his house & George had to abandon his dream of bringing the Torch through 35 countries to Argentina. Ironically this happened at Pope John Paul 2 Cultural Centre. Throughout the rest of 2010, George desperately tried to raise the funds & resources to continue the campaign but time & time again was unsuccessful, and accomplished smaller activities in Toronto. In January 2011, George went to his friend Lorenzo home in Vancouver BC. Something remarkable happened, that indirectly set off an amazing series of events. In December 2010 George agreed to walk for Sickle Cell Disease from Ottawa to Toronto in the dead cold month of February 2011, and in January 2011 witnessed on TV the tragic shooting of Christina Green. George had a vision, that her organs were donated & expressed this to his friend Alex Roman, the next day. A week later Lorenzo sent George a news clip that Christina's organs were donated. George rushed to Vancouver, and shared this astounding vision with Lorenzo. February 1, 2011, immediately after George's visit with Lorenzo, he began walking from Ottawa to Toronto, a 500 km walk. Many people were asking why a white guy was walking for what was known as a Black disease. George answered, that he didn't see colour. In the painful walk, George was hoping to see a premonition. On March 5 2011, after finishing the walk, George receives a call from Phoenix AZ to bring the Torch of Life to lead a march to Governor Brewer's office.The Governor had taken 100 people off the waiting list for organs in Arizona & 2 had died, so this was called the Arizona 98. George thought this was also a calling to meet the Green family who lived in Tucson AZ. George had to cancel the plan to travel to Tucson and flew back to Toronto after a very successful march in Phoenix. April 13 2011, After painfully walking for Sickle Cell, and risking himself into a dangerous situation with Arizona authorities for the Arizona 98,Throughout the year, countless efforts were made to resume the campaign in Washington DC, but to no avail. It was disappointment after disappointment. Couuld this journey be coming to an end. This brought tears to George Marcello as he looked at the Torch & started reflecting back to the first Step. April 17 2011, George was checking his emails and noticed in one email, that a young male Afghanistan student from McGill Univrsity was asking George for advice to walk from Ottawa to Toronto. He wanted to walk to show his gatitude to Canada. In another email a young female Pakistan student from McMaster University was asking George for help in saving her dad who needed a liver transplant. This felt like a good omen for George to ask Shaheem Joya (the McGill student) if he would walk for the young girl's dad and for Step By Step. Shaheem agreed & during his walk he contacted George every day. Shaheem woke something up in George. After completing the walk George shared with Shaheem the story about Ismail Khatib and how deeply it affected him. George was compelled to invite the father, Ismael Khatib to Canada to honour Ahmed with the Torch of Life. May 31 2011, George & Shaheem make contact with Ismail Khatib Aug 1 2011 - George contacts world famous Donor Dad Reg Green and arranges to bring him to Toronto in Sept 2011 to honour his son Nicholas Green with the Torch of Life. This is after a failed attempt to do this with Vatican City Sept 5 2011, Reg Green carries Torch Of Life in Nicholas memory through Little Italy in the heart of Toronto Oct 2 2011 Ismail Khatib confirms that his VISA is accepted, and will be arriving to Toronto with his son Khaled on Oct 28 11 Oct 6 11, George arranges for Reg Green & Ismail to talk to each other through SKYPE Oct 29 11 Ismail Khatib & Reg Green meet at Toronto Airport Oct 31 2011 The Donor Dads carry the Torch Of Life through Toronto and 5 other major cities in the next 10 days Jan 26 2012, Khaled Khatib meets Helene Campbell at Toronto Sick Kids Hospital, and promises he will carry the Torch Of Life for her through 72 cities & towns in Ontario This campaign was call Register Now Ontario Mar 5-Jun 19 2012 Khaled begins carrying Torch of Life in Kenora for Helene & in memory of Mrs Betty Albreht. On his final day in Toronto, June 19 2012, Israeli girl Yael Gladstone and Helene meet Khaled & together they carry the Torch to the finish line. Feb 3 2013, Khaled carries Torch from Ottawa to Toronto for his friend Anthony Socci who needs a kidney transplant. Anthony is Jewish Apr 1-30 13 Torch is carried for Kayla Baker in Toronto Oct 4 13 - Reg Green & Khaled Khatib carry Torch Of Life through Vancouver BC Dec 12 13 - George tries to help Anthony Socci & Mary Giavedoni receive her liver, this indeed might be the end of his journey more will be revealed

• published: 27 Feb 2014
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