This past week our MND was in Kandahar along with Fin. Min. Jim Flaherty. Peter MacKay said our troops are doing well against the insurgents. That is great however the long wait for overdue equipment is not the way to win the hearts of our troops.
Our Pm S. Harper goes to the Arctic to press the flesh and announce our sovereignty. He promises more bases and services for the North.
The uncertainty of our new supply ships and the Coast Guard vessels is on hold as the bids were to high.Are all these news bytes the hinting of a Fall election? Who knows? Whenever the writ is dropped our troops will still be in harm's way. Governmental leadership is crucial during the campaign.
Enough of old news I would like to share with you another letter from a reader and pass on the information with regard to the Military Run for the Soldier On programme.
Good Day to all; I was asked by the Army Run to send this out. If you are able pass it on. from Eric Payne Charlottetown PEI.
CANADA ARMY RUN TO SALUTE INJURED SOLDIERS
AND ATHLETES WITH A DISABILITY
OTTAWA, ON (August 27, 2008) A key part of the inaugural Canada Army Run will be a salute
to this countrys injured soldiers and athletes with a disability. All race proceeds will go to support
the Military Families Fund and the Soldier On Fund, which provides resources and opportunities
for CF personnel with a disability to fully and actively participate in physical activity, recreation
and sport. Some of Canadas injured soldiers will take part in the September 21 event, which
starts near City Hall in Ottawa.
Among them will be Cpl Shaun Favens, 25, who survived a bomb blast in Afghanistan two years
ago that killed six of his fellow soldiers riding in the same light armoured vehicle. Favens was told
he would never walk again but he plans to run the 5k with his physiotherapist, Capt Adam
Hannaford, of Halifax.
Being injured hasnt been the end of the world for me, but its been a long road back, he says. I
may not be able to run the whole race but I owe it to myself, my fallen brothers and my comrades
to go as far as I can.
MCpl Paul Franklin, who lost both legs in a suicide bombing in Kandahar three years ago, plans
to cover the 5k race distance in a wheelchair. This Run is about telling the world that our spirit
doesnt die just because were injured. Its also a chance for us to draw inspiration from each
other.
Several U.S. soldiers who sustained permanent injuries in the Iraq conflict will also be taking part,
as will other athletes with disabilities. They will be given a special early departure of 7:45 AM for
the 5k and 8:45 AM for the Half Marathon, 15 minutes before the main field.
Ive experienced the raw emotion first-hand of running beside an injured soldier at the U.S. Army
Ten-Miler in Washington and what it means to them to tell the world that their fight continues,
says Canada Army Run director, Major Chris Horeczy. I have no doubt that people in our race
will feel the same.
Injured soldiers and all athletes with a disability interested in taking part in the Canada Army Run
are encouraged to contact race organizers at
-30-
Media Contact:
Lynne Bermel info@armyrun.ca
613.722.3799 (Office)
613.864.4058 (Cell)
Soldier fted
Sergeant Andrew McLean
The founder of the Soldier On program was honoured in Febuary 2008, for increasing the profile and participation of disabled people in society through his work with injured members of the military.
Sergeant Andrew McLean collected the award at the annual gala dinner of the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons.
The search and rescue specialist at Canadian Forces Base Trenton received the King Clancy Award, established to commemorate the Maple Leaf hockey great.
Sergeant McLean founded Soldier On to help injured soldiers stay active through sports and fitness.
The grassroots initiative has been embraced by the military, which has appointed a full-time coordinator.
The military sees the aim of the program as contributing to the operational effectiveness of the Canadian Forces by enriching the lives of those with disabilities through sport. The founders also hope it will help to change attitudes towards the disabled both in the military and broader society.
LA COURSE DE LARME DU CANADA RENDRA HOMMAGE
AUX SOLDATS BLESSS ET AUX ATHLTES HANDICAPS
OTTAWA (Ont.) le 27 aot 2008 Une composante importante de la premire Course de
lArme du Canada sera un hommage rendu aux soldats blesss de notre pays et aux athltes
handicaps. Les profits de la Course seront en outre verss au Fonds pour les familles des
militaires ainsi quau programme Soldat en mouvement, lequel offre aux membres du personnel
des Forces canadiennes souffrant dinvalidit des occasions et des ressources afin de participer
entirement et activement des activits physiques, rcratives et sportives. Certains soldats
canadiens blesss prendront part lactivit du 21 septembre, qui dbutera prs de lhtel de
ville, Ottawa.
Parmi eux, il y aura le caporal Shaun Favens, 25 ans, qui a survcu lexplosion dune bombe en
Afghanistan, il y a deux ans, qui a tu six de ses collgues soldats qui se trouvaient dans le
mme vhicule blind lger. M. Favens a appris quil ne marcherait plus, mais il prvoit participer
la course de 5 km, accompagn de son physiothrapeute, le capitaine Adam Hannaford,
dHalifax.
Le fait dtre bless na pas t la fin du monde pour moi, mais ma convalescence a t
longue, dit-il. Je ne pourrai peut-tre pas terminer la course, mais pour moi-mme, ainsi que pour
mes frres qui sont tombs et mes camarades, je dois me rendre aussi loin quil mest possible
daller.
Le caporal-chef Paul Franklin, qui a perdu les deux jambes lors dun attentat suicide la bombe
Kandahar il y a trois ans, prvoit parcourir les 5 km de la course en fauteuil roulant. Le but de
cette course est de dire au monde entier que notre volont ne meurt pas, juste parce que nous
sommes blesss. Cest aussi une occasion pour nous dtre une source dinspiration les uns pour
les autres.
Plusieurs soldats amricains qui ont subi des blessures permanentes lors du conflit en Iraq
participeront galement lvnement, ainsi que dautres athltes handicaps. Ils pourront
profiter dun dpart spcial anticip 7 h 45 pour la course de 5 km, et 8 h 45 pour le demimarathon,
soit 15 minutes avant le dpart des autres participants.
loccasion de la course Ten Miler de larme amricaine Washington, jai moi-mme fait
lexprience de lmotion ltat brut que lon ressent quand on court ct dun soldat bless
et jai constat quel point il est important pour eux de dire au monde entier que leur lutte
continue, dit le directeur de la Course de lArme du Canada, le major Chris Horeczy. Il ne fait
aucun doute que les participants notre course auront le mme sentiment.
Les soldats blesss et tous les athltes handicaps qui dsirent prendre part la Course de
lArme du Canada sont invits communiquer avec les organisateurs de la course ladresse
info@armyrun.ca
Friday Tomorrow please show your support wear something RED> Thankyou
Nil Sine Labore
Robby info@armyrun.ca..
