Picking up a little bit of garbage is no big deal for Marie Virtue and other members of Kilcona Park Alliance Church.

The East Kildonan resident can often be seen riding her bike along the Northeast Pioneers Greenway, picking up garbage along the way.

 Virtue, who has been picking up garbage on the trail since the spring, said she was inspired when she saw a woman walking her dog on McLeod Avenue taking the time to pick up a few pieces of trash.

"I always cycle back and forth on the trail and it’s such a beautiful path, but the garbage drives me crazy," said Virtue, who recently joined the River East Neighbourhood Network-Trail Committee.

"So instead of letting it drive me crazy, I decided to do something."

Virtue said she cleans the trail from Kimberly Avenue to Springfield Road and Kimberly to Talbot Avenue on a rotating basis.

She estimates that it takes her two hours, four mornings a week to pick up garbage on the trail and in the community as she makes her way to the greenway from her home on Rizer Crescent.

On Tuesdays she cleans around Kimberly Hill and along the fence near the Elmwood Kildonan Pool and Kildonan-East Collegiate with her neighbour Larry Born. The duo also cleans up along Kimberly to the greenway.

North Kildonan resident Bob Rogers said he was intrigued when he saw Virtue out on the trail one day and decided to approach her.

"I was walking and I saw her up on the greenway picking up garbage. I told her she deserved a medal," Rogers said.

"If people see her doing this I think it will set an example."

Sigrun Bailey, co-chair of the trail committee, said it’s a positive sign to see community members taking ownership of the trail.

"From the very beginning we have wanted the community to take ownership of the greenway.

Marie and her group are an excellent example of this," Bailey said.

"Having Marie and her group out cleaning up makes our community a better place to live."

Virtue said on average she fills 15 small garbage bags a week, and hopes people who see her are inspired to do the same just as she was by the lady walking her dog.

"That lady motivated me and I’m hoping people will be motivated by this," she said.

"Just don’t litter. I would encourage people to carry a bag with them as they walk. If they pick up what’s near the pathway I can do the rest."

Anyone interested in helping Virtue can email her at marieofaloette@shaw.ca.

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com