WATCH: Seven runners are splitting 600 kilometres from Port Hardy to Victoria and hope to raise $100,000 for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
This year is the fith-annual Wounded Warriors Run down Vancouver Island in support of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
It’s highly visual with a police escort and meant to draw attention to the invisible wounds that Canadian service men and women and first responders deal with every day.
“You know we’re addressing the wounds that aren’t visible,” said Wounded Warriors Run Ambassador and runner Jacqueline Zweng. “It’s mental health, it’s operational stress injuries, it’s the impact on family’s as well, it’s not just the person that’s been affected in the line of duty but that trickles down to the people around them.”
Eleven per cent of Canadian Forces personnel have experienced PTSD at some time. Many of Canada’s men and women in uniform return home from tours of duty with serious mental health issues.
Only in the last decade or so as PTSD become better understood and accepted.
Several of the runners have suffered or witnessed PTSD.
“When they come home they can’t carry on, the family doesn’t really understand, so everybody suffers from it a little bit and it creates a lot of stress and a lot of separation.” said Des Champs, running and member of the Royal Canadian Navy based in Esquimalt.
“I served in the military for 28 years so so I’ve seen the effects of PTSD. I’ve seen friends go through it so it’s an important cause for me,” said runner Simon Brown.
Paramedics, firefighters, corrections and police officers also suffer high incidents of PTSD.
The RCMP says 38 per cent of members who are off-duty sick long-term have mental health issues, including PTSD.
“We see stuff that no one else will see and maybe will never understand what we do see and go through so this run is such a tremendous event,” said Campbell River RCMP Cons. Dave Dormuth.
There are seven runners splitting the 600 kilometres from Port Hardy to Victoria. The team hopes to raise $100,000 this year, money that is put towards programs for those with PTSD.
If you’d like to donate click here.
If you need help, there are the following resources:
Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888 (24hrs 7 days)
Crisis Text Services: 250-800-3806 (6pm to 10pm)
Crisis Chat Services: www.vicrisis.ca (6pm to 10pm)
Dean Stoltz
