A walk across western Canada to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder launched May 1 is due to arrive in North Battleford Monday, May 11.
Kate MacEachern, who embarked on The Long Way Home from Nipawin, plans to complete a a 3,000 kilometre walk across three provinces over the course of three months.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 70 will be hosting MacEachern Monday when she arrives. She’s expected about 6 p.m., so a meet and greet will begin at the Legion at 5 p.m.
The Canadian Legion of Riders on their motorcycles will escort her down 100th Street to the Legion building as she arrives.
The public is welcome to turn out to meet MacEachern, and there will be a barbecue at which a meal will be available for a donation to MacEachern’s cause.
MacEachern herself lives with PTSD after having suffered life-threatening injuries while a member of the mounted troop of the Lord Strathcona’s horse regiment. Her walk, on which she carries a 45-pound rucksack, is one of raising funds and awareness of the stigma and lack of support for those with PTSD.
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 headed to Government House in Regina to meet Lt. Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield for an official welcome. Stops on her tour, prior to North Battleford, are Prince Albert, Shellbrook, Leask, Krydor and Hafford. From North Battleford, she will head off May 12 to Bresaylor, Maidstone, Marshall and Lloydminster as she continues her journey to her final destination of Chilliwack, B.C.
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.
Those interested in MacEachern’s journey can follow her at http://www.thelongwayhome.ca/play-by-play.html.
