Wound Warriors participants were greeted with open arms as they arrived at the Duncan Fire Hall where they announced a historic step forward in raising awareness for mental health programs.
The eight-day trek began in Port Hardy on Feb. 23 with runners starting an 800 kilometre journey to Victoria that would raise $250,000 for first responders, emergency service personnel, and military members to help remove the stigma around mental health and promote positive healthy living.
Pat Bryant is part of the Central Saanich Police Service and is also running in the event. He says the run has been welcomed in each community and is on course to hit a record amount of donations this year.
“Everything has gone great so far, and we’re over $200,000 now in donations,” he says. “We’re getting closer and closer to our goal.”
Bryant says like other events and fundraisers, the Wounded Warrior run has really brought the entire team together like family not just through running together, but also because they’re able to share a common bond.
“The team I’m with has been fantastic, and it’s all for a great cause,” he says. “The team and the programs on resiliency have been fantastic.”
This is Bryant’s first run for Wounded Warriors, and he says there is no doubt in his mind that he would participate in it for another term to help raise awareness in such a worthy cause.
So far, the run has raised close to $225,000, and they’re still looking for donations,
The run is expected to finish with a grand finale in Victoria at Market Square at 4:30 p.m.
