Turning a Torch into a Dream

General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, Mrs. Leslie Natynczyk, Julie Fotheringham, Executive Director, True Patriot Love Foundation, Shaun Francis, Chair, True Patriot Love Foundation

True Patriot Love Foundation supports Soldier On with $100,000

An Olympic torch, purchased by Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk, turned into a dream come true for some of the most seriously injured members of the Canadian military.

General Natynczyk and his wife Leslie, purchased the torch for $450 that he carried on behalf of Navy, Land, Airforce, and military families at CFB Esquimalt on the first leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. He then donated it to the True Patriot Love Tribute Dinner Auction. Mr. Ken Hood’s winning bid of $6500 inspired the True Patriot Love Foundation to grow that bid into $100,000 donation to Soldier On – a fund that uses Sport to help heal wounded “soldiers” both physically and psychologically. This donation further enabled a delegation of 18 Canadian soldiers and their families to travel to the Paralympics to witness first hand the capabilities of those facing similar challenges.

Corporal Billy Kerr, Tracy Kerr, General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, Michael Burns, Vice Chair True Patriot Love Foundation

Greg Lagace, Soldier On Manager, explained, “We wanted ill and injured soldiers to see what persons with disabilities can do and what opportunities are available to them. One of the best places to witness the potential residing in persons with a disability is at the Paralympic Games.  The Soldier On team is expected to come back from British Columbia completely galvanized and since enthusiasm is contagious, there will most certainly be a ripple effect. In the end, what really matters is that injured or ill soldiers know they can turn to the Soldier On program to explore what is possible in a situation that all too often seems “disabling”.

True Patriot Love Foundation is all about supporting and honouring members of the Canadian military and their families. “It’s the family that is so deeply involved in the caring and rehabilitation”, said Michael Burns, Vice Chair of the TPL foundation, who spent a day at the Paralympics with the soldiers and their families, “a program that involves families and motivates those who have served on behalf of us, is exactly the type of program True Patriot Love wants to support. We thank them for all of their sacrifices”

Tracy Kerr, wife of Corporal Billy Kerr, who lost both of his legs and one arm after an IED attack last year, said “this is the honeymoon we never had – a honeymoon surrounded by “our military family” – a chance to get away and be with others who are facing the same challenges of adjustment.”

While at a reception in Whistler, Minister of State for Sport, Hon Gary Lunn, asked the military men and women if they felt proud watching the Canadian Olympians win medals for our country and then went on to say that there is no Gold Medal big enough to reflect the pride we have in all of them.