In the third week of February, a relay team of five endurance runners will cover the entire length of Vancouver Island, starting from Port Hardy on February 16, and arriving at the Langford Legion on February 21.

The run is called the Wounded Warrior Run BC (WWRBC), and is an undertaking done under the umbrella of Wounded Warriors Canada. The mandate of this non-profit organization is to B次元官网网址渉elp any Veteran in need as they transition to civilian life.B次元官网网址� They will B次元官网网址渉elp Canadian Forces members B次元官网网址� be they full time or reservists, or retired B次元官网网址� who have been wounded or injured in their service to Canada.B次元官网网址� Both WWC and WWRBC are independently run, and are in no way affiliated with the Canadian military.

This Island-long run was conceived to both raise money for WWC and to raise awareness of the the private programs that exist to help those veterans who need it. This includes all veterans, old and young, as well as anyone currently serving in the military.

Allan Kobayashi from Victoria is the creator of the concept as well as the team captain. As a military man currently working for the navy, and as a person effectively dealing with his PTSD, Kobayashi wanted to give something back to his fellow military members. Together with a friend, he conceived the idea of running the island, relay style.

B次元官网网址淚 was diagnosed with PTSD (post-tramautic stress disorder) and OSI (Operational Stress Injuries) in 2006,B次元官网网址� explains Kobayashi. He has been with the military for 17 years and counting, and has done multiple tours including in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Running has been therapeutic for Kobayashi. B次元官网网址淔or me, running has always been an outlet.B次元官网网址� HeB次元官网网址檚 been running for about 10 years, and has gotten even more serious over the past two or three years.

B次元官网网址淩unning was the way I could deal with the daily stresses and anxieties and everything else, and there was my outlet. B次元官网网址� It just became my medicine, my medication.B次元官网网址�

This particular fund-raising run will be gruelling. B次元官网网址淭he WWRBC team will run the entire length of Vancouver Island, from Port Hardy to Esquimalt spanning a distance in excess of 600 km in six days,B次元官网网址� details Kobayashi, B次元官网网址淓ach athlete will run a total of one-and-a-half to two hours daily  in relay style, averaging 30 to 60 km per day.B次元官网网址�

The relay team will visit the Royal Canadian Legion branches along the planned route, as the Legions serve as a central donation collection point B次元官网网址� and the hub for community relations.

At present, Sooke is not included on the route or in the run.

B次元官网网址淚 have many friends in Sooke, unfortunately none are going to be participating in this years event,B次元官网网址� said Kobayashi. B次元官网网址淲ho knows what next year will bring! However that being said, because so many military families reside in Sooke I really wanted to get the word out about the Wounded Warrior Run BC.B次元官网网址�

All the proceeds will be donated to WWC. For it has been WWC that provided him with the education about PTSD. B次元官网网址淭hey kind of fill the gap of the void that people feel  that may be there, that they do not have access to.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢y big goal,B次元官网网址� he continues, B次元官网网址渋s about alleviating the dark cloud and the stigma that surrounds post-traumatic stress disorder.B次元官网网址� Kobayashi wants to put the information out there, informing people that itB次元官网网址檚 not a disorder exclusive to the military, and that any trauma can leave its mark. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 discriminate.

For now, with the support of his friends and sponsors, he and his team will run the length of the Island specifically to raise funds for Wounded Warriors, and generally to education people about PTSD.

If you wish to donate to the Vancouver Island campaign or otherwise support the runners and their cause, visit http://woundedwarriorrunbc.com

For more information about the services offered by WWC, visit their website at WoundedWarriors.ca