Campbell River's Shelagh Germyn is back at home after her incredible journey to raise awareness about the need for better child care in BC.

Germyn's Million Steps for Child Care, a one-woman ultra marathon run from Campbell River to the Legislature in Victoria, finished on Tuesday, one week after she set out from Campbell River.

"It was an amazing journey that I'll never forget," she told the Courier Islander Wednesday while resting at home. "Everybody thought that the Malahat was going to be tough but I seemed to just motor up that hill. I ran 70 K from Duncan to Victoria and I don't know how I got there. It was nine hours and 15 minutes and I had the most energy on the last stage. (It was like) somebody was behind me, pushing me all the way. I don't know where it came from.

"I feel great right now and that's amazing too. My feet, my legs, everything's fine."

The mother of two grown children launched the run Oct. 9, saying she loves children and running, both of which inspired her run.

Afterwards, Germyn felt her message had been delivered.

"We got invited into the Legislature and we got to sit there and listen for about an hour and then we were invited in to visit with Linda Reid (Minister of State for Child Care). There was about 10 of us there and we just told her that child care is in a crisis and that we need to look at it again."…

IShe heard child care providers and parents talk about the need for more, affordable child care spaces, better pay for child care workers and more public funding.

Germyn's run and the rally on the Legislature steps, including child care advocates, providers and parents, also drew a response from the NDP. Leader Carole James said Germyn's run showed the extreme lengths to which British Columbians will go to tell the Campbell government that B.C. needs quality and affordable childcare.

"Gordon Campbell's cuts have made it difficult for working families to find quality, affordable childcare," said James. "I look forward to a time when events like this aren't necessary because we will have quality and affordable childcare in B.C."

"Families are struggling across the province to find care for their children," said North Island MLA Claire Trevena, Critic for Childcare. "But instead of providing support, the Campbell government has cut funding and services for childcare.

"Wait lists for childcare average one to two years, and most childcare centres have difficulty finding and keeping staff. Almost every centre in the province say they will be forced to increase their fees by $100-200 per month. Childcare in British Columbia is a mess, and Premier Campbell doesn't seem to care. Though the Campbell government continues to deny there have been cuts, B.C. families who rely on childcare beg to differ. The provincial contribution to childcare has dropped $43 million since 2001, when the Campbell Liberals formed government."….