A Vancouver Island police officer taking part in a fundraising tour, that raises awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder, finds solace in running.
Wounded Warrior Run B.C. sees a team, that includes first responders and members of the Armed Forces, traversing north to south Vancouver Island. At a tour stop in Nanaimo Friday, March 1, Daryl Baswick, a Victoria Police Department member, spoke of the therapeutic nature of running.
BaswickB次元官网网址檚 24-year policing career is drawing to a close, and he feels fortunate that heB次元官网网址檚 leaving with reasonable physical and mental health. Running has always been a key part of his life, he said.
B次元官网网址淩unning benefits us physically and mentally and those two are so connected,B次元官网网址� Baswick told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin. B次元官网网址淭he link between mind and body is so profound and so strong B次元官网网址� to be outside, to get fresh air. I look over my shoulder here and see beautiful mountains with snow on them and a cloud drifting across, a bit of sun and it is so powerful.B次元官网网址�
Baswick thinks more and more people are becoming aware of PTSD, unlike when his policing career began. There wasnB次元官网网址檛 much known about exposure, nor was there much followup to critical incidents, he said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much knowledge now about the physical impact the traumatic incidents and critical incidents can have on a person, on their brain, and how it affects a person physically and how PTSD can result from that,B次元官网网址� Baswick said. B次元官网网址淪ome of the great things that are possible now is recognizing if thatB次元官网网址檚 the case, intervening early (helps). In my organization, we have a critical incidence risk management team, we have peer support.B次元官网网址�
A target of $250,000 has been set and as of March 2, close to $116,000 has been raised, according to Jacqueline Zweng, director of Wounded Warrior Run B.C. and people can do more than just donate.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e asked people for a couple of calls to action this year,B次元官网网址� said Zweng. B次元官网网址淕o to , check out a program, take five minutes to learn a little bit about it because you might help somebody else if youB次元官网网址檝e been armed with that knowledge to be able to support a first responder or a serving member.B次元官网网址�
The team left Nanaimo the morning of Saturday, March 2 and will conclude Sunday, March 3 in Victoria.
For more information, including to donate, go to .
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