On March 2, a workforce of eight Canadian runners comprising first responders and army personnel accomplished an 800-kilometre run from the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island all the way down to Victoria. The workforce spent eight days working via quite a few communities, elevating funds and consciousness for Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) psychological well being applications.
The workforce set a fundraising objective of C$250,000 and, on the time of publication, had raised 96 per cent of the goal. Among the many eight individuals had been Comox Valley paramedic Francesca Lott, Comox Valley RCMP officer Paul Jones, Royal Canadian Air Power member Dan Bodden, retired Canadian Armed Forces dental officer Nathalie Butler and Metropolis of Victoria Deputy Chief Jason Laidman.
“Our objective is to assist the individuals subsequent door, your coworkers, and folk in your neighborhood,” wrote Wounded Warrior Run director Jacqueline Zweng on the message behind the run. “Each greenback raised stays proper right here on Vancouver Island, supporting psychological well being applications for first responders, veterans and their households via WWC.”
On the fourth day of their journey, the workforce made a particular cease in Comox for a brief group run with RCMP members and army personnel from CFB Comox. The workforce divided the 800-km problem into eight to 10-km legs, with runners alternating every leg.
The entire individuals perceive firsthand the struggles of post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD). Lott, who has labored as a paramedic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, advised Victoria Information she had witnessed quite a few traumatic incidents. Her objective on this problem was to assist break the stigma surrounding trauma and encourage these struggling to hunt assist.
“There’s at all times been that outdated mentality, particularly with trauma-exposed professions, the place you see issues and also you simply ‘suck it up and hold going,’ and also you form of bury these emotions,” Lott defined. “Nevertheless it’s OK to start out speaking about it and understanding what’s taking place to us physiologically and mentally. It’s OK for individuals to be weak and share their emotions after they’ve been uncovered to traumatic incidents.”
Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) is a nationwide psychological well being service devoted to supporting trauma-exposed organizations, professionals and their households. They provide providers that mix schooling, counselling and coaching to assist people construct resilience and get better from post-trauma accidents, specializing in serving Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders and their households.
The workforce of first responders and army personnel acquired a big heat welcome once they arrived at Victoria’s Market Sq. on Sunday, March 2. “It’s been completely unreal,” Lott mentioned. “Each single member of this workforce is superb. They’ve all gone via their very own traumas, and so they’ve all been courageous sufficient to discuss them.”
In the event you’d prefer to make a contribution to the workforce and WWC, you are able to do so right here.