The Wounded Warrior Run BC (WWRBC) ended at the B.C. Legislature building Sunday evening and raised over $100,000 for programs supporting first responders, veterans and their families impacted by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The run, started six years ago by Dan Bodden, a warrant officer in the Canadian air force, raises funds for Wounded Warriors programs such as BOS (Before Operational Stress) and COPE (Couples overcoming PTSD Everyday).
But Bodden said the run is also about keeping important conversations about mental health and PTSD alive.
B次元官网网址淚 was tired of reading the news about another veteran, another police officer harming themselves. I thought well, the systemB次元官网网址檚 going to change eventually but why not help out with that change and lead by example?B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think the first step in any mental health issue, despite how much money you want to throw at it, is acknowledging it and getting it out from under the light.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he $100,000 we raised is terrific, and it certainly is a very nice metric, but I think that metric is reflective of how many people are able to talk about [PTSD] and how things are changing,B次元官网网址� Bodden added.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so important to talk about the things that have stigma,B次元官网网址� says Victoria mayor at the culmination at
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The team at the steps of Legislature Sunday. Story to come!
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RELATED: Wounded Warriors Run BC gets ready to hit the road
RELATED: Firefighters embrace reality of PTSD
The 600 kilometre run down Vancouver Island was completed by a team of seven veterans, first responders and supporters in under seven days. It started Feb. 25 in Port Hardy and culminated at the B.C. Legislature building Sunday evening.
Along the way, the team not only raised money, but spread messages of support and hope.
B次元官网网址淲e roll into each community and our team goes into Legions and community halls [where] we stand up and we talk about PTSD,B次元官网网址� said WWRBC director Jacqueline Zweng. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to normalize that conversation [and] for people to know thereB次元官网网址檚 a source of hope, there are people here that are listening and we also have life changing programming.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚f somebody has an injury thatB次元官网网址檚 invisible, for some reason thatB次元官网网址檚 harder to talk about and to addressB次元官网网址e want people to know that itB次元官网网址檚 a huge sign of strength to come forward and talk about it instead of staying in silence.B次元官网网址�
WWRBC was supported by the Saunders Family Foundation, Serious Coffee and Tilray. Langford mayor Stew Young also announced a $5,000 donation from the City of Langford and $5,000 from the West Shore Developers Association.
RELATED: Langford Fire Rescue partners with Wounded Warriors to focus on mental health
nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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