Soldier On Sports Recovery/Rehabilitation Fund

[Takeniteasy]

Kingston Frontenac's Military Appreciation Night with Don Cherry.
In Support of the Soldeir On Fund.

Army News storey (Army Run)
http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/story-reportage-eng.asp?id=3834

Media Release

IT’S HOCKEY NIGHT
IN K-TOWN!

Salute to Canadian Forces with
Canadian hockey legend Don Cherry

The Kingston Frontenacs are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009, they will be honouring Canadian Forces Base Kingston in their annual salute to the military and Don Cherry will be joining them at the event.

On that night, the Kingston Frontenacs will be unveiling and wearing a limited edition, one-of-a-kind game sweater. Afterwards, an on-line auction for these sweaters will occur, with all proceeds from the monies raised to be donated to Soldier On.

“We look at this as an incredible opportunity at the local level to salute our “community heroes”, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, but to also develop a program to give back on a national level”, said Director of Business and Community Development Michelle Skolnick. “When we contacted Don Cherry initially to see if he would be interested in taking part in our salute, he immediately came on board as we all know what a tremendous supporter of the Canadian military he is,” she added

“This is definitely a game that you don’t want to miss,” said Jeff Stilwell, Director of Marketing, Public, Media and Player Relations.  “I think that not only Kingstonians, but Canadian hockey fans in general are going to be in for a big surprise with the look of our sweaters. I can promise you that this will be a “two thumbs up event”, he added.

Soldier On fund works to optimize the functional independence of ill or injured Canadian Forces personnel or former personnel by delivering programs and services and facilitating and integrating opportunities that support their full and active participation in physical fitness, heath promotion and sport. The Canadian Forces is committed to ill and injured personal and their loved ones, through programs ranging from excellent medical care, to vocational assistance to social support and counseling.

The on-line auction for these game worn sweaters will begin immediately following the game and continue to November 4th. To view the sweaters and make a bid, please visit kingstonfrontenacs.com and click on the link.

For more information, please contact Jeff Stilwell at 613.542.4042. x6046, or by email at jeff@kingstonfrontenacs.com 

Jeff Stilwell

Director of Marketing
Public, Media and Player Relations
613.542.4042 x6046
613.542.2834 (f)

Visit us at www.kingstonfrontenacs.com

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Army news made the trip to video the Coastal Team challenge that took part in early August, pictures and article posted earlier in this thread. Here is part on by Sgt Milburn.

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/story-reportage-eng.asp?id=3857

Duty With Honour
Soldier On 

 

[Takeniteasy]

Update on the Kingston Frontenac's Military Appreciation Night with Don Cherry. Autographed limited editio shirts for auction following the game. Details below.

Don Cherry Jersey Auction
The Kingston Frontenacs are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009, they will be honouring Canadian Forces Base Kingston in their annual salute to the military and Don Cherry will be joining them at the event. On that night, the Kingston Frontenacs will be unveiling and wearing a limited edition, one-of-a-kind Don Cherry game sweater. Each Don Cherry sweater will be autographed by the Canadian hockey legend and then made available for sale in an on-line auction, all proceeds from the monies raised to be donated to Soldier On.

Auction Begins:

The on-line auction for these limited edition, one of a kind autographed game worn sweaters will begin immediately following the game and continue until midnight on November 4th,  2009.

How to Bid:

To view the sweaters and make a bid, please visit kingstonfrontenacs.com and click on the link following the game. 

All Proceeds will support:

Soldier On fund works to optimize the functional independence of ill or injured Canadian Forces personnel or former personnel by delivering programs and services and facilitating and integrating opportunities that support their full and active participation in physical fitness, heath promotion and sport. The Canadian Forces is committed to ill and injured personal and their loved ones, through programs ranging from excellent medical care, to vocational assistance to social support and counseling.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On iper: :yellow:

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good Day to all;

Maple Leaf article on fundraising efforts overseas, very good read. Thanks to Maj Boisvert for her selfless contribution to both Soldier On and the Canadian Cancer Society.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=5687

And some pictures of the Kingston Frontenac's Military appreciation night, autographed jerseys now up for auction.
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2140763

Duty With Honour
Soldier On :hockey:

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good Day to all;

Posting a couple of links for you to read. First one is for Scott's Blog Kristy his wife has written the latest entry.
http://scottmilne.ca/

Coaches Corner. Don Cherry promoted his one of kind Kingston Frontenac's jersey and highlighter two of our personnel Scott and Jody. The jerseys are all now over 400.00 with 5 being over 500.00 for the auction with 6 days remaining. Link is to CBC video library Coaches Corner.
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/ID=1306921789

We have had a tremendous spring, summer and fall with support for Soldier On bringing in over 150,000 in funds from coast to coast to coast. To many to name and I try to keep up with the ones who send me pics and info on their efforts. Some just do it without wanting to be acknowledged and to all I extend a heart felt thankyou.  :yellow:

Together we build stronger communities and lives.

DUTY WITH HONOUR
SOLDIER ON
WO Andrew McLean iper:

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good Day to all; this past wknd the annual CF Sports Awards (CF Woman in Sports) took place in Ottawa. Among the noteable attendees was our Extreme Kayak Challenge participants. (info posted earlier) Sgt Karen McCoy, Cpl Mark Fuchko, Cpl Ryan Crawford and MCpl Brett Rickard. MCpl Paul Franklin was unable to attend due to another scheduled event.

Sgt Karen McCoy was highlighted this year as one of the 6 woman in CF sports video and I have downloaded her segment on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7O-Wj3VLDk

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Here is the second episode from Army News. Coastal Team Challenge Team Reaches it' Goal.

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/story-reportage-eng.asp?id=3876

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

We have a winner!

We will be replacing "Soldat en Mouvement" with "Sans limits" it will take time to change all the text to reflect the change but we will get it done. Link

http://www.dnd.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=5707

New splash page reflects our Navy/Army/Airforce www.soldieron.ca

Congrats to Joanie Filion and Denis Fortin on being award each a $200 CANEX gift certificate.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good Day to all, Cpl Ryan Crawfords personal account of the August Extreme Kayak Adventure. Army News link:

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/story-reportage-eng.asp?id=3879

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good Day to all, Kingston Frontenac's Don Cherry Jersey Auction ends with over $22,000 raised, link is to there media release.  iper:
Special thanks to Sgt Scott Milne and family, MCpl Jody Mitic, Don Cherry, Kingston rank and file,the Kingston Frontenac's and their fans for a awesome team effort.

http://www.kingstonfrontenacs.com/news/don-cherry-sweaters-raise-over-22000

Thanks again to all who continue to support SOLDIER ON/SANS LIMITS

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Posting some pictures of further efforts for some of our wounded CF members. Mrs. Natynczyk when visiting Walter Reid last year was exposed to the American Segways for wounded and wanted to bring the same resource north of the border to our service men and woman. After a year of preparation this past week she was able to see the fruits of her labour. With the help of Wounded Warriors (Sapper Mike McTeague) Fund they were able to get 7. The pictures are from Leah Cuffe (Mike Trauner's fiancee).

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good day to all,
Things are busy with Soldier On events planning, for the 2010 winter season we have 3 regional adaptive ski/snowboarding events. BC/ON and PQ will each have an event to best support CF pers from across Canada.

We are also into the planning of our Paralympic Games Trip to Vancouver which will see us meet up with our sister programs  "Battle Back" UK and  "Operation Rebound" USA. Each of our respective countries is sending a contingent of service men and woman who have sustained life changing injuries. We are looking forward to that experience. The CDS auctioned off the Olympic Torch that he carried shortly after the flame arrived on Canadian soil. It fetched $6500 for the event and we thank True Patriot Love and the CDS and Leslie  for the opportunity and support.

Our newly acquire RAFS (Regional Adaptive Fitness Specialists) started work on October 1st and are hard at work developing and providing opportunities and resources. Valcartier has already hosted a sledge hockey intro session with more planned. They are also putting together a Nordic (cross country ski) intro camp together as well.
The RAFS are located at each of the 8 JPSU's and like Valcartier will be providing similar type activities along with specialized fitness training for those who have sustained serious injury or illnesses.

Fund raising has continued and through 3rd party initiatives our fund has received over 350,000 dollars. We have given out 65,000 in funding/grants as of this date as well.

Along with the public funding, hiring of the 8 RAFS, JPSU, IPSC, The Centre, CF Physio, Case Managers, AO's, CF Units, PES's (Physical Exercise Specialists)30 hired through PSP, OSISS,VAC.... cant mention them all but we are well under way at providing one of the best systems with each component overlapping one another.

I hope to have some pics to post shortly on the Valcartier sledge hockey intro camp.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Airforce run is well underway in planning and preperation. They will be raising funds for Soldeir On and Military Families Fund.  :alarm:

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/17w-17e/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=9561

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Check out this link. Helen Zipes writes about MCpl Mike Trauner.

http://www.discoverphysiotherapy.ca/discover_story3.html

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

It has been some time since my last post but no confession needed. We have been very busy with 2 upcoming adaptive ski events. For our 4th year we will have 8 CF personnel heading to Mt Washington in the Comox valley for 5 days of slope fun. We also have 6 Valcartier personnel participating in an adaptive ski week in mid Feb. Both events are being put together by some great people and foundations. VISASS and CADSI associations. Our new Regional adaptive Fitness Specialist have also played key roles in getting the names and making arrangements for these events to happen. The Soldier On Fund will provide the funding for these events so once again thanks to all who continue to support.

Another event we have been head deep in preparing for is "Sans limits" our trip to the Paralympic Games in March, we have our list set and 18 of our bravest and proudest peers will be experiencing the games first hand. We did our best to include members from across Canada. NB, QC,ON,MB and AB all have reps from their regions. There are few others key events going on leading up to and during the games but have to keep those a secret for now.

This weekend the Toronto Maple Leafs along with BMO will be hosting the CF appreciation night. Sgt Scott Milne/family, Pte Rob Webster/guests, Cpl Mike McTeague and MCpl Kevin Urie-Kikukawa will be present and honoured as VIP guests in the BMO Box Suite. For those who do not know both Scott and Rob suffered cervical spine fractures during sporting events and are now quadriplegics. Kevin also suffered a spinal cord injury during a rappelling accident. Mike was wounded in AGH and the Canadian Wounded Warriors Charity was started in his honour.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On                                          

 

[Takeniteasy]

Links are to some articles, both english and french links.

MCpl Adam Cyr auctioning off his Olympic Torch for injured soldiers.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/2010-Olympic-Torch_W0QQitemZ250566213961QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item3a56e90149

Adj Sylvain Latulippe hitting the ice in Valcartier with others
http://www.journaladsum.com/nouvelle.php?id=223

David Levesque-Bouchard also from Valcartier
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/la-capitale/200811/24/01-803908-une-centaine-de-militaires-de-retour-dafghanistan.php

Pte Glen Kirkand mother is featured in an article before she heads to Shilo to watch Glen run with the Olympic Torch.
http://www2.canada.com/langleyadvance/story.html?id=cb3c65a5-e780-4516-a95c-319cb83ac677

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Posting a picture of Cpl Chris Klodt and his new custom ride. This bike was custom fitted by Andy Barker of www.Bike-On.com. They are specific to the needs of quadriplegics.  :yellow:

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Posting a youtube link of the recent trip to Mt Washington funded by Soldier On donations. Check out the video. :snowman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxa8dqjQIF0

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good day to all;

Soldier On has made the final three for the 37th Annual Canadian Sports Awards. We were nominated under the "Spirit of Sports" Story catagory. Here is the link to the news release. We will find out on March 3rd if we are the winners. Being nominated and making the final three is quiet the honour in itself. Alot of deserving programs and stories out there.

The Spirit of Sport Story of the Year category recognizes and celebrates Canadian heroes. Finalists include:

        Soldier On (SO) program - Canadian Forces Personnel & Family Services
        Duff Gibson
        Woodstock Thunder
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2010/05/c7137.html

Also attached are some pics of MCpl Adam Cyr PPCLI, sit skiing this past week.

Duty With Honour
Soldier On

 

[Takeniteasy]

19WF 10/002 February 8, 2010

Shredding Powder on the Road to Recovery
Injured Soldiers Participate in Veteran’s Learn to Ski program

By A/SLt Nikki Murillo

On a foggy and calm morning, Master Corporal Adam Cyr did something he never thought he would do again: he strapped on a pair of ski and shred some powder down a mountain. Just eighteen month earlier, he was ambushed during the last patrol of his second tour in Kandahar province with the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry (2 PPCLI). The attack was costly; he lost his right leg blow the knee and suffered severe burns to much of his body. It was a long road away from recovery.

On a sit ski, MCpl Cyr took part, on February 1st 2010, in the third Soldier On and Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS) Veteran’s Learn to Ski program. He was joined on the slopes by Canadian Paralympics Ski team member, Andrea Dziewior, a VISAS veteran and, by the fourth day, was feeling pretty confident in his abilities.

“I was going to race her [Dziewior] today, but I didn’t want to psych her out before the Olympics,” said MCpl Cyr. “I think definitely one day I’d like to try and get seriously involved and maybe try for the Paralympics, but being from the prairies, I’d probably have to move here [Comox Valley] first.”

“These guys are a ton of fun and so willing to go outside their comfort zone, they’re always willing to try a hill that’s just a little steeper. I’m not sure if it’s because they like the challenge or chasing a girl,” said Dziewior. “But in all seriousness, I have so much respect for what our soldiers do, and even more respect for the courage these soldiers are showing in their recovery. And this is such a great program because sports as a part of rehabilitation are as important for the mind as it is for the body.”

MCpl Cyr, who has participated in four other Soldier On events, works in the unit’s support cell and is working on an initiative, called Good to Go, to build a support group in battalions for members with Occupational Stress Injury. His hope is that the model can be applied to other large units to help members help themselves.

“Having been blown up myself, I think it’s really important to help out the other guys who’ve been injured. They know they can trust me when I tell them about what they can expect during their recovery,” said MCpl Cyr. “I think that events like this are also really important for recovery. Being here, being able to ski and to learn how others are recovering helps me personally more and more each time.”

The Veteran’s Learn to Ski week is a partnership between Soldier On and VISAS. Soldier on picks up the cost of airfare and accommodations for the member and an attendant, while VISAS and Mount Washington provide the facilities, equipment and instructors. Many other community organizations including: Royal Canadian Legions in Bowser, Comox, and Courtenay; the Ladies Auxiliary of the Comox Legion, Barry Vandusen at the Whistle Stop Pub, 888 Wing RCAF Assoc and the Herb Bradley Coke Classic play a key role in financially supporting the program.

To learn more about the Soldier On Fund you can visit http://www.cfpsa.ca/en/psp/SoldierOn/CFSOF_e.asp and for more information on VISAS please visit http://www.visasweb.ca/index.php.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview contact Capt Alexandre Cadieux at 250-339-8201 or at Alexandre.Cadieux@forces.gc.ca.