A nationwide campaign began its first leg in Barrie Saturday morning in hopes of raising money for veterans and first-responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Canadian Walk For Veterans took place today at Heritage Park and many veterans and their supporters walk to raise money and awareness for veteran’s services.
Barrie walk team leader Justin Whitehall works in the medical cannabis industry and has been working with a lot of veterans that have PTSD. He says he sees a lot of people having to deal with it, but also has a familial tie-in to the event.
“Being in the medical cannabis industry opened the door for me to see what these folks are going through at times,” said Whitehall. “However, my grandfather was a veteran and my father is a police veteran, so I feel a need to help because of that.
"This event is also for first-responders, there are so many suffering from PTSD and help is needed.”
The route for the walk was from Heritage Park to the Tiffin Boat Launch and back. Approximately 20 people participated.
Being the first year for the event in Barrie, Whitehall says that number will grow to compete with other areas in the country.
“There are a total of 10 walks from B.C. to PEI and they all get great numbers that are into the hundreds,” said Whitehall. “We know we’ll reach that with Barrie, being such a military-supportive city.”
Donna King is a retired sergeant who spent over 28 years in the armed forces.
“The PTSD and the drugs they gave for malaria, which are also causing the issues, those are two very important issues,” she said. “The government needs to wake up and realize they are important challenges. The veterans are not getting the treatment they need right away and we need to change that.”
For more information on the Canadian Walk For Veterans, click here here.
