Lt.-Col. Chris Linford stands proudly at the podium.
For those assembled, he recounts his battle with post traumatic stress disorder after 25 years of full-time service in the Canadian military – including tours in Rwanda, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.
He’s been suicidal at times, he tells the crowd. His life relationships have also been difficult, including the one with his wife, Kathryn, with whom he travels around the country speaking about the dangers of mental illness, the importance of addressing it in our society, and the help available for those who need it.
His moving speech was all part of the kickoff event for the Wounded Warrior Run BC last Friday at Saunders Subaru in Colwood.
Six runners – Steve Deschamps, Channing Knull, Lorne Guthro, Mary McGregor, Sebastian Arsenault and Rob Lamothe – will soon run, relay-style, the length of Vancouver Island to bring awareness and raise funds for PTSD awareness and treatment for those who need it.
Departing from Port Hardy Feb. 15, the runners will each take a leg of the journey down Island, leaving Rooney Lake, Campbell River, Comox, Nanaimo, and Mill Bay on subsequent mornings, returning back to Saunders Subaru at the end of the sixth day.
For more information, check out woundedwarriorrunbc.com.
mdavies@goldstreamgazette.com