ELORA – Elora’s Mike Duhacek has been nominated for a Police Hero Honour Roll Award.
The award is one of five Police Services Hero of the Year Awards given by the Police Association of Ontario to police officers and civilian members of police forces.
It recognizes “extraordinary bravery, a moment of kindness, or a long-standing commitment to community,” according to its website.
Duhacek has been a civilian member of the Halton Regional Police force for some 20 years.
Local folks might recall Duhacek pulling a 220-pound sled through town in February of 2023 on his “Help Me Bury Cancer” journey from Owen Sound to Oakville.
Or perhaps it’s his inaugural journey in 2013 that rings a bell, when he went from Windsor to Ottawa pulling 125 pounds.
He wrote a book, One Foot in Front of the Other, about the challenges he experienced on his treks, he has spoken to school children about doing kind deeds, and he launched a podcast, Stories from the Road, that’s gaining listeners.
Through it all he’s raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research and, perhaps even more importantly, has raised awareness – about cancer and all that entails, about cancer research, and about working for a cause.
“I talk about how to build awareness of creating an initiative. I want to make sure people don’t become complacent,” Duhacek said in an interview.
“There are so many things people can do to help.”
Duhacek is no stranger to winning awards for his accomplishments.
He has received the Canadian Cancer Society Award of Extraordinary Achievement and Outstanding Support, Halton Regional Police’s Award of Excellence in Community Support, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award (Sovereign’s Medal) and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.
That doesn’t make this nomination any less special, he said. In fact, he was touched by the kind words from his nominator.
“Mike has comforted children who have cancer, children who have lost their parents and parents who’ve lost their children to this terrible disease,” his nominator wrote.
“He shows them all such compassion and kindness. His goal is to always show them that we’re all on one team and there’s always people fighting for them.”
Duhacek has no plans for another marathon trek at this time. He’s focusing on his podcast right now, building listeners and hoping to motivate people through the airwaves for the time being.
“I started by sharing a story and it snowballed,” he said of the podcast.
Winners of the Police Association of Ontario awards are to be announced in May with a formal awards ceremony in Ottawa on May 29.
And win or lose, “I have to say, I’m extremely honoured and truly humbled by the nomination,” he said.
To learn more, visit helpmeburycancer.com.
