The Wounded Warrior Canada run heads south along Hwy. 1 near Smitty's in Chase River on Saturday, March 2, on their way to their next stop in Ladysmith before finishing up in Victoria on Sunday. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

running through it all

VIDEO: ‘Push that limit:’ Wounded Warriors on final leg of 800 km fundraising run

Mar 3, 2024 | 5:52 AM

NANAIMO — The inspiring annual campaign to support veterans and first responders stopped in Nanaimo earlier this week before continuing south to Victoria.

One of the stops for the Wounded Warriors Canada was at Nanaimo Legion Branch #10 on Friday, March 1, around 3 p.m., fresh in the Harbour City following a stop at the Lantzville Legion Branch #257.

Runner Jason Laidman, deputy chief of the Victoria police department, said this cause is close to his heart after an on-duty injury left him with lasting effects before Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) was available to him.

“I was physically injured and the mental health component didn’t even enter into my mind until someone close to me told me that I actually need to get some help, and that was a couple of years later… and that’s the point of Wounded Warriors. We can help the recognition, we can help the resilience, and get the help that’s needed and readily available.”

The run is an eight-day, 800-kilometre journey down Island to raise money for the national mental health service supporting veterans, first responders and their families.

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Starting on Feb. 25 in Port Hardy and headed south, the run stopped in Woss, Sayward, Campbell River and Comox along the way, landing in Qualicum Beach by Feb. 29.

Laidman said WWC programs are available at no cost to those who need it, which includes active members and those closest to them.

“Some of the programming that is available through WWC… are for some of the kids, those who’ve experienced trauma, certainly families, there is spousal programs and of course programs for the member themselves. They help build resiliency, help recover from those occupational stress injuries, but also get people ready who are about to enter into a career that may involve trauma or being exposed to trauma throughout their career.”

By Friday afternoon, Laidman had already run 90 kilometres in six days.

They were also short one runner this year, which meant the remaining seven had to push a little harder.

“We’ll have to push that limit a little bit, but when you get into the purpose of why we’re doing it, it gives your muscles a little bit extra strength and makes the joints hurt a little bit less because there’s actually a purpose behind it, so it’s excellent.”

Members of various local first responder groups participate in the run every year, including Chris Stanger, a volunteer firefighter in both Qualicum Beach and Courtenay, who was participating in back-to-back runs.

The group spent Friday night in the Harbour City, before taking off again the next morning arriving at the Ladysmith Legion Branch #191 at 11 a.m., before continuing south towards Chemainus, Duncan, and Shawnigan Lake.

The run finishes on Sunday, March 3 in Victoria, with a fundraising goal of $250,000.

More on the run, including how to donate to WWC, is available on their website.

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— with files from Kyle Ireland

jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow