Vicki L MorrisonDuring the Wounded Warrior Run BC (WWRBC) a team of dedicated runners will relay-run the length of Vancouver Island for six consecutive days. Their journey will take place February 15-20, 2015 and will cover an excess of 600 kilometres, beginning in Port Hardy and ending in Victoria.
The idea for the unique relay style WWRBC came from founding members, Allan Kobayashi and Dan Bodden. Their objective was to increase public awareness of mental health issues and raise funds for Wounded Warriors Canada.
“We really just want people to know there are people out there with non-visible injuries. This is a chance for us to run during the day and give talks at night, network and raise awareness,” said participating runner, Rob Lamothe.
The five runners taking part in the second annual event along with Lamothe include Steve Deschamps, Channing Knull, Lorne Guthro, Mary McGregor and Sebastien Arsenault. The team is a combination of elite and recreational athletes. They will train both individually and as a team for the long-distance run.
The WWRBC run director is Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (ret’d) Ron Mierau, a 36-year veteran who served as a hull technician in the Royal Canadian Navy. A van carrying the rest of the support team will follow the runners along the entire route. The RCMP and local police will provide escort, ensuring the safety of the runners.
The team will be stopping in every city and town along the Vancouver Island route, meeting with elected officials, raising awareness, and stopping at Royal Canadian Legions along the way. He invites people to not only donate or offer to sponsor the event, but come and cheer on the athletes as they take on the tremendous distance.
“It could be interesting as the weather in February on the north end of the Island is unpredictable. We may see snow, ice or rain. Luckily the weather in the south tends to be milder, generally on the plus side, but as everyone knows it does frequently rain,” said Lamothe.
Wounded Warriors Canada is a non-profit organization that helps Canadian Armed Forces members, regular force or reservists, who have been wounded or injured in their service to Canada. Through a wide range of programs and services, the organization helps find solutions where gaps have left veterans and their families in need. Currently, their primary focus is on mental health, particularly the staggering impact of operational stress injuries, including post traumatic stress disorder.
Overall, the mandate of Wounded Warriors Canada is to help any veteran in need as they transition to civilian life.
For more information visit Wounded Warrior Run BC 2015.
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