It鈥檚 before the thunderous applause from a cheerful crowd that this year鈥檚 eight Wounded Warrior runners completed their 800-kilometre journey at Victoria鈥檚 Market Square on the afternoon of March 2.
Eight days after departing the North Island town of Port Hardy, the running crew, made up of first responders and military personnel, trekked through numerous communities to raise funds and awareness for Wounded Warrior Canada鈥檚 (WW) mental health programs.
Runner and Comox Valley paramedic Francesca 鈥淔rank the Tank鈥� Lott, who鈥檚 no stranger to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was proud to participate in her first run.
鈥淚t just sounded like a really cool experience,鈥� said Lott. 鈥淚 love running and it really helps me with my mental health and my PTSD, so it's kind of cool to bridge the two together and do something that really brings me a lot of joy and peace and raise awareness.鈥�
Having worked in Vancouver鈥檚 Downtown Eastside, Lott has faced many traumatic incidents. This year, she ran to break the stigma around trauma, encouraging anyone struggling with the latter to step forward, connect, and share their experiences.
鈥淭here's always been that old mentality, especially with trauma-exposed professions, where you see things and you just 鈥榮uck it up and keep going,鈥� and you kind of bury those feelings,鈥� said Lott. 鈥淸But] it鈥檚 OK to start talking about it and understanding what is happening to us physiologically and mentally.
鈥淚t鈥檚 OK for people to be vulnerable and really share their feelings after they've been exposed to some traumatic incidents.鈥�
Tim Black, national clinical director for WW and a trauma-specialized psychologist, spoke at the Langford Legion, where runners took one of their final breaks before starting the last leg of their run to the capital city.
鈥淭he money that's being raised is going directly to help the people who keep us safe, who protect us, our nation, our municipality, our provinces, our highways, and the people you see right here in the room,鈥� said Black. 鈥淚 feel indebted to all the people that keep me and my family safe, and the rest of us safe.鈥�
This year鈥檚 goal is to raise $250,000. So far, the team grossed 90 per cent of that, just short of $225,000.
Black also addressed the crippling impact trauma can have on people experiencing its effects.
鈥淒ealing with trauma makes you wanna crawl under a rock and be away from everybody else,鈥� he said. 鈥淸People] end up in their basements, alone, and they end up losing their spouses, they lose contact with their kids, with their siblings, and to me that's the real tragedy because they are our neighbours, they're our brothers, sisters, parents, and our kids who dedicated their lives to protecting us.鈥�
Though therapy can help in healing, Black explained that a supportive community is a key factor in recovering from the wounds left by trauma.
Lott, who shared this view, was impressed by the unwavering support from communities throughout the Island and WW鈥檚 organizing team to make this event a success.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been absolutely unreal,鈥� said Lott. 鈥淓very single member of this team is absolutely amazing. They've all gone through their own traumas and they've all been super brave enough to speak about them.鈥�
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