By Ian Holmes

Annual Recovery Run supports Nanaimo area emergency responders

Jun 24, 2017 | 11:59 PM

NANAIMO — The favour is being returned to Nanaimo area first responders struggling with the affects of the drug overdose crisis sweeping the province.

The seventh annual Recovery Run at Nanaimo’s Westwood Lake on Friday night hosted by Nanaimo-based Edgewood Treatment Centre raised money to carry out resiliency programs for central island first responders.

Colleen Ward director of Edgewood’s western operations told NanaimoNewsNOW an expected $25,000 from the event will go to the mid-island branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association to offer much-needed support for local ambulance paramedics and firefighters.

“Whatever funds we raise will go to that,” Ward said. “We think between the mid-island branch (CMHA) and us we can make it most economical to help as many first responders as possible.”

Ward said paramedics can face backlash from people overdosing, which causes trauma.

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“They (paramedics) are having PTSD and trauma from giving people Narcan and bringing people back to life and I think people hear that and they want to help.”

Ward said 425 people rounded Westwood Lake as part of the annual Recovery Run. In the past the event supported the Edgewood Foundation, which supplied free addictions treatment for several applicants. Ward said the decision to support emergency responders this time was made due to the growing challenges paramedics and firefighters face in light of the overdose crisis.

BC Coroners Service data indicated 19 people in Nanaimo died from drug overdoses during the first four months of this year.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes