The annual Wounded Warriors run is underway on Vancouver Island. A team of eight runners left the North Island on Saturday, Feb. 22 and are making their way 800 kilometres down the Island, intending to arrive in Victoria eight days after departure.
Port Alberni will be one of the stops again this year even though there is no Port Alberni first responder on the team.
Team members this year include run director Jacqueline (JZ) Zweng, head runner Nathalie Butler, runners Matt Carlson, Kevin Whiteside, Jason Laidman, Dan Bodden, Pat Bryant, Paul Jones and Francesca Lott as well as a support team. Members come from across the Island and from military, police, fire and emergency medical professions.
The Wounded Warriors is a national organization providing mental health and other supports for military, police, firefighters and other first responders. The B.C. run on Vancouver Island raises support and awareness for the mental health programs provided by Wounded Warriors Canada to trauma-exposed professionals and their families. Funds raised on the Island run stay on the Island to provide life-changing programs for first responders.
The Wounded Warriors will be running from Courtenay to Port Alberni on Thursday, Feb. 27. They usually arrive between 2-4 p.m., running down Highway 4 and Johnston Road to Gertrude Street, turning left toward the Best Western Barclay Hotel Plus.
The Royal Canadian Legion Br. 293 will host a fundraising dinner for the Wounded Warriors beginning at 5:30 p.m. when members of the West Coast Highlanders Pipe and Drum band will pipe them into the Legion. A roast beef dinner will be served at 6 p.m., with live and silent auctions to follow. Tickets for the dinner are $35 and available at the Legion bar at 4680 Victoria Quay.
The Legion in Port Alberni has raised thousands of dollars for Wounded Warriors programs since the B.C. run has been coming to the city. Port Alberni RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard members have previously participated in the run and on the support team.
For more information on Wounded Warriors, visit their website at www.WoundedWarriorRunBC.com.
