Walk For PTSD

While we are hearing about the tragic fires in the Interior of BC, one fact stands out that some might not have heard of.

It’s the plight of a 44 year-old military veteran Robert Gagnon who walked through some the fires in the Interior all in support of his cause.

He left home June 28th in hopes of walking to BC’s Capital City Victoria in hopes to raise awareness and funds for the cause of “awareness” about veterans and first responders fighting (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He arrived in a “hot-spot” in Lac La Hache and the air was filled with smoke and by the time he managed to get to 100 Mile House as he states “it was a raging inferno.”

He managed to reach 100 Mile House before the town was evacuated and spent the night in one of the local hotels and from that point he traveled to Clinton along Highway 97; where the road was closed due to the fire.

At this point the town of Ashcroft had lost about 30 homes due to the fires and he actually thought about heading 80 kilometres going through Lillooet.

He introduced himself to the officials in Clinton and they escorted him through the fire zone to a safe area located south of Ashcroft.

As he reached the lower mainland he was joined by members of the BC Government and Service Employees Union who walked with him on Hwy # 17 to the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal.

He mentioned that he had heard from first responders throughout the walk and mentions “Their stories are a lot more horrific than what I’ve been through in my life.”

Next stop – off to the Capital and Sportswave hopes his walk was not in vain.