The Wounded Warrior Run will stop off in Campbell River Feb. 16-17 on its second annual jaunt to raise awareness of and funds to aid Canadian Forces members injured in their service to Canada.
Six runners, joined by a mobile support crew, will run a 600-plus kilometre relay beginning Feb. 15 in Port Hardy and wrapping up Feb. 20 in Victoria.
Along the route, local Royal Canadian Legion branches are hosting meet-and-greet events for the runners and crew. The team is scheduled to stop in at Campbell River’s Legion at 6 p.m. Feb. 16, for a social gathering at the end of the second leg of its relay.
Because of other scheduled events at the Hall that evening, there will be limited space for the public, said Barry Watson of the Campbell River Canadian Legion.
But there will be an opportunity to send off the runners when the team departs the following morning at 10 a.m. from Serious Coffee in Willow Point and starts its third leg to Courtenay-Comox via the Island Highway.
Wounded Warriors Canada, which has branches across the country, was formed to provide financial support and find therapeutic support for military men and women in need. The group’s primary focus is on mental health, particularly the often hidden scourge of post-traumatic stress disorder and operational stress injuries.
“This is something near and dear to me,” said Rob Lamothe, one of the six runners in this year’s relay.
“I have been deployed multiple times and I’m very concerned about PTSD and mental illness. It’s not a physical injury you can see, but wounds that are not as visible are still important to deal with.”
Lamothe will be joined by Steve Deschamps, Channing Kull, Lorne Guthro, Mary McGregor and Sebastien Arsenault, the lone returning runner from last year’s relay.
In its inaugural run of Vancouver Island last year, Wounded Warrior raised nearly $25,000.
Donations made be made during the Legion event in Campbell River, or online at any time at www.woundedwarriorrunbc.com