On March 2, a group 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 group spent eight days working by way of quite a few communities, elevating funds and consciousness for Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) psychological well being packages.
The group set a fundraising aim of C$250,000 and, on the time of publication, had raised 96 per cent of the goal. Among the many eight contributors have 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 aim 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 packages for first responders, veterans and their households by way of WWC.”
On the fourth day of their journey, the group made a particular cease in Comox for a brief group run with RCMP members and army personnel from CFB Comox. The group divided the 800-km problem into eight to 10-km legs, with runners alternating every leg.
All the contributors perceive firsthand the struggles of post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD). Lott, who has labored as a paramedic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, instructed Victoria Information she had witnessed quite a few traumatic incidents. Her aim on this problem was to assist break the stigma surrounding trauma and encourage these struggling to hunt help.
“There’s all the time been that outdated mentality, particularly with trauma-exposed professions, the place you see issues and also you simply ‘suck it up and hold going,’ and also you sort of bury these emotions,” Lott defined. “However 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 susceptible 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 companies that mix training, 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 group 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 stated. “Each single member of this group is wonderful. They’ve all gone by way of their very own traumas, they usually’ve all been courageous sufficient to talk about them.”
If you happen to’d prefer to make a contribution to the group and WWC, you are able to do so right here.