by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — It was with ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhhhhs’ that five men who walked from Petawawa to the Cobden Legion settled their feet into pails of soothing water.
The men, wearing 30-pound packs on their backs, walked approximately 48 kilometres from Petawawa to Cobden last Thursday for the non-for-profit organization Ruck 2 Remember. But, that was just the first day of a four-day march. The next three stops were in Renfrew, Arnprior and finally Kanata.
The five men, Phil Owen, Lino De Julio, Nathan Desborough, Dave Merriott and Noel Gracie, left the Petawawa Legion at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. At 8 p.m., they walked into the Cobden Legion, very happy for the opportunity to remove their shoes and soak their feet.
Following a barbecue feast, they received a donation of $1,125 from the Cobden Legion, to add to their growing funds.
Carolyn McCaul, Ontario Legion Command public relations chair, said it’s a four-day march to raise awareness and funds to help homeless veterans. The Road to Recovery walk began four years ago, but it was two years ago march organizer, Mr. De Julio and the Royal Candian Legion partnered for the event.
In the four years since Mr. De Julio began this Road to Recovery walk, more than 500 veterans have been helped through the funds raised for Ruck 2 Remember, Ms. McCaul said. There are many veterans living on the streets or who need financial assistance in some way, she said.
“We help get them off the streets,” Ms. McCaul said. “We pay their first and last month’s rent. We pay for their medical and dental needs.”
She noted there is an agreement with George Brown College in Toronto for the veterans to use the dental program. There is hope a similar agreement can be made with Algonquin College in Ottawa, she added.
Money is raised through public and branch donations. Petawawa Legion donated $1,500 plus there was $100 in cash donations.
Last year the walk raised $25,000 and this year the goal is $35,000, Ms. McCaul said.
Following a night’s rest, the walkers were treated to breakfast by Legion members and then began their trek to Renfrew, followed by Arnprior and finally Kanata.
