A walk across western Canada to raise awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder launches May 1 and the route will include the Battlefords and area.
Kate MacEachern will embark on The Long Way Home in Nipawin that day and start a 3,000 kilometre walk across three provinces over the course of three months.
She will be taking along her 45-pound rucksack and will be raising funds and awareness of the stigma and lack of support for those with PTSD.
MacEachern herself suffers from PTSD after having suffered life-threatening injuries while a member of the mounted troop of the Lord Strathcona’s horse regiment.
She went on her first Long Way Home in 2012 from Gagetown, N.B. to Antigonish, N.S., which took 19 days.
The next year she walked 1,876 kilomtres from Cape Breton, N.S., to Ottawa, Ont.
Before starting her 2015 journey, she will head to Government House April 29, Regina to meet Lt. Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield for an official welcome.
After her tour stops in Prince Albert May 5 and 6, the walk will head through Shellbrook, Leask, Krydor, Hafford and into the Battlefords May 11.
After that she heads off on May 12 to Bresaylor, Maidstone, Marshall and Lloydminster as she continues her journey.
Donations will go to four organizations: the Nash Project (PTSD service dog provider to Saskatchewan Legions’ PAWS for Veterans), PAWS Fur Thought (PTSD service dog provider to Nova Scotia Legion Command), Alpha K9 (PTSD service dog provider to Canadian and American veterans and first responders) and also the Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation, which hosts the annual weekend event this year in Chilliwack, B.C. Chilliwack is MacEachern’s final destination on her journey.
Those interested in MacEachern’s journey can follow her at http://www.thelongwayhome.ca/play-by-play.html
