M/cpl Jody Mitic one of Canada's elite snipers, seen above on Mike Duffy Live in Nov 2008. He is a double amputee who has persevered with his life and is helping other wounded veterans cope with the stresses of being wounded in a war zone. Yesterday Sunday March 15 he organised a run for funds for other amputees, who are looked after by The St John's hospital in Toronto.
Jody honouring our fallen.Along the Highway of Heroes.
Soldiers wounded in Afghanistan run to raise money Updated Sun. Mar. 15 2009 10:51 PM ET
The Canadian Press
TORONTO -- Double amputee Master Cpl. Jody Mitic was in his glory Sunday as sprinted across the finish line at the Achilles Canada five-kilometre run with fellow soldiers and the military's top boss.
I am blown away by the support of my brothers-in-arms, Mitic said after completing the run in 38 minutes to raise money for St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital.
The support from the Canadian military has been awesome.
Members of his unit -- 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, based in CFB Petawawa -- passed a hat and raised $7,000 for the cause.
Mitic, 31, was joined downtown by 1,500 runners, walkers, and disabled athletes for the event that is expected to raise $100,000 to purchase equipment for the hospital.
The athletes were cheered by hundreds of supporters as they circled an area near the Rogers Centre and CN Tower.
Mitic lost both legs after stepping on a landmine during a January 2007 tour of Afghanistan.
He ended up at St. John's where he promised to give something back to the 160-bed hospital.
Fellow amputee, Cpl. Michael Barnewall, 28, added he wouldn't miss the run for the world.
I am just hoping to finish, Barnewall said. It's really good to be here to support such a good cause.
Barnewall, who's from the Windsor area, suffered severe lower body injuries, including the loss of a foot, after stepping on a land mine in November 2006 in Afghanistan. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment.
Hospital president Malcolm Moffat said Mitic is an inspiration for patients at St. John's.
He has inspired other patients to stretch their goals, Moffat said. Many others look up to him because he went ahead and did it.
Gen. Walt Natynczyk, Canada's chief of defence staff, said the military will always stand behind its soldiers.
I am here to show that the Canadian military leadership cares, Natynczyk said after finishing the run. We care for each one of our men and women in the military.
He said more than 100 soldiers have lost limbs since Canadian troops were first sent to Afghanistan.
BRAVO ZULU to all our wounded Vets for the courage and determination they show in moving on with their lives.
As another Battle group has bid farewell to Valcartier and is enroute to Kandahar our prayers and best wishes go with them. Bravez adieu des soldats du Canada. Revenez bien aux bras de vos aims. Thankyou du Canada.
A gross waste of Tax payers money and an insult to the soldiers of Canada. The TAX funded visit of Taliban's jack's partner Olivia Chow and Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj flew all the way to San Diego from Ottawa to check up on an American Deserter. What a waste of Tax Dollars and as I said a veritable slap in the face to the fine Canadians who are doing their duty. Regardless of this Disgrace from members of the opposition. This act alone would prevent me for ever voting for these people.
Two MPs, who met Sunday with a U.S. army deserter court-martialled after fleeing to British Columbia, are hopeful their California visit reignites debate about allowing others to take refuge in Canada.
NDP MP Olivia Chow and Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj spent 45 minutes discussing the issues around Robin Long's deportation and learning about his condition behind bars in San Diego.
Long, 25, who the Toronto MPs call a war resister, was deported from Canada in July 2008 after fleeing to avoid serving in Iraq the first deserter to be sent back to the U.S. by the courts.
The [incarceration] conditions are acceptable, but what's unacceptable is the fact that this young man, as a consequence of taking a principled stand, is spending 15 months of his life while he's in his 20s in prison, Wrzesnewskyj said from San Diego.
Please support our troops and think of the Invisible Army left behind.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
