The co-founder of Wounded Warrior Run BC believes awareness surrounding post traumatic stress disorder has improved since the organization was created.

The Victoria Grizzlies are doing their part to help Allan Kobayashi and others ensure that trend continues.

For the rest of this month, the Colwood-based B.C. Hockey League team will wear special alternate jerseys that feature the Wounded Warrior logo on each sleeve and a slight alteration to the Grizzlies logo, with the words B次元官网网址榃ounded Warrior CanadaB次元官网网址� replacing B次元官网网址榁ictoria Grizzlies.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great organization and any time you can help someone like them it makes you feel really good,B次元官网网址� said Grizzlies president Lance Black during the unveiling event at the McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 Restaurant in Colwood on Tuesday night.

When hockey teams reveal third jerseys, they often emit a certain level of flamboyance. Black said that was simply not what they were going for with these designs.

B次元官网网址淵ou see these outrageous, outlandish jerseys. We wanted to have a little respect towards (our) organization, as well as the Wounded Warriors and McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 (the jerseyB次元官网网址檚 corporate sponsor),B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 think what they came up with was a very nice blend of a lot of ideas. WeB次元官网网址檙e very proud to wear them.B次元官网网址�

Kobayashi was  part of a group that designed the jerseys, on which silent auction bids will be accepted throughout the month. The bidding will close at the start of the third period of the teamB次元官网网址檚 Jan. 27 game against, fittingly, the West Kelowna Warriors.

Half of the proceeds from the auction will go to Wounded Warrior, with the Grizzlies receiving the other half.

B次元官网网址淗aving a big organization like the Victoria Grizzlies supporting this, I think itB次元官网网址檚 absolutely phenomenal. I think it speaks immensely to whatB次元官网网址檚 actually happening with the awareness piece and how many people are actually jumping on board to help out,B次元官网网址� Kobayashi said.

And while Kobayashi says awareness of PTSD continues to improve, he continues to see a need for more education.

B次元官网网址淚 think a lot of people hear PTSD and they automatically click in and assume. I think that a lot of people still define PTSD by what they wear to work,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that many might assume PTSD only affects those in the armed forces and such lines of work as emergency responders.

B次元官网网址淧TSD is defined by a person that witnesses a traumatic event, and thatB次元官网网址檚 a big piece for me,B次元官网网址� he said.

Tickets for the GrizzliesB次元官网网址� Jan. 27 game against West Kelowna will also be on sale at all West Shore McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 outlets for a reduced rate of $10, with $5 from every sale going towards Wounded Warrior.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com