Not everyone who experiences trauma comes through it unscathed. It’s no surprise that those that actually experience the trauma have both physical and mental battles that sometimes last their entire lives. It affects them but it also affects their families, some to the point of disintegration and suicide.
To see all the pictures from the reception, CLICK HERE.
But there is another group that maybe doesn’t make the news as much and that group consists of military, police, fire fighters, paramedics, correction officers, search and rescue personnel, nurses/doctors, and any others who fall into a category known as Trauma Exposed Professionals or TExP. A Trauma Exposed Professional is an individual who, through the course of their regular job duties is continually exposed to traumatic events involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, and/or sexual violence. Their trauma experience is every bit as devastating to them as the people they saw go through the actual trauma and affects them and their families in the exactly same manner.
Wounded Warriors Canada is a national mental health service provider dedicated to serving trauma exposed organizations, trauma exposed professionals and their families. They provide Trauma Resiliency programs, couples support, family support and other services through a network of mental health providers, and even have programs aimed at supporting children. All in all, they are trying to fill gaps left in other various support systems but their ability to do so relies on donations and fund raising.
This is where the Highlanders Ride for Wounded Warriors plays its role as it’s an alliance between the Cameron Highlanders (Ottawa) and the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders (SD&G) Tactical Group who raise money for Wounded Warriors by undertaking to ride bicycles from Ottawa to Cornwall on one day and then back to Ottawa the next: an approximately 240 kilometer round trip taking about 10 hours cycling time. This year, the ride was completed by nine riders who rolled into the Cartier Square Drill Hall about 1630 hours, August 25th, 2024, to a reception to thank them for a job well done.
One of the first to take the podium to thank them was Ottawa City Councillor David Hill (en-military himself) followed by Senator Rebecca Patterson (also ex-military and former registered nurse). Both talked about the need for mental health support and the good groups like Wounded Warriors do for the community. Senator Patterson seemed more passionate about the subject than I’ve seen her at other events noting that on top of the 158 service members lost in Afghanistan, 500 more have been lost to suicide since they’ve come home.
Next up to thank the riders, who still hadn’t sat down yet after arriving from Cornwall, was the Mayor of Cornwall, Justin Towndale, who also is a Captain in the SD&G Highlanders. To the delight of Mr. Towndale, the next speaker, the Commanding Officer of the Cameron Highlanders and SD&G Highlanders Tactical Group, LCol. Ryan Hendy, referred to Mr. Towndale as Your Worship (correct form of address for a Mayor) even though Mr. Townsend, as a Captain in the Tactical Group, is under the command of LCol. Hendy.
LCol.Hendy started by thanking the guests for taking the time to come out on a weekend and thanked a few members of the defence attaché community for coming out as well (Mexico and France). He noted that this was the fifth year of the ride which has raised about $35,000 over the five years and over $7,000 this year (just over $7,900 as of August 27th). Of the ride he said, “The Highlanders Ride for Wounded Warriors is not merely a test of endurance but a powerful symbol of our unwavering commitment to those that have served our nation with valour and continue to serve our nation with valour. …Let us continue to ride, not just the distance but for the difference we make in our communities and for our veterans”. After his remarks, LCol. Hendy presented the riders with certificates of thanks and achievement signed by the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
The final presentation was an award of the RSM and Command Team Coin to Cpl. Matthew Don Trapp, who heard about the ride and came forward with an entire business plan to raise the profile of the event, including this reception with which he only had a month to plan and obtain sponsors. Some of the sponsors were Sandstone Group, Vimy Brewing Company, Kiln Vineyards, First Lake Solutions, Wounded Warriors. Unfortunately, I did not get the name of the business that supplied the catering but my understanding is they did it for free including time, effort, and food.
RSM CWO lan Port finished the speakers with making sure that everyone knew that although he was very involved in this, special mention should be made of Cpl. David Sutcliffe whose idea the ride was originally and all he did was jump in to add his talents. He also recognized the work done by Mr. Trapp in putting together this reception and says that with his plans, the ride should be bigger and better next year.
