Saint John long-term care home marks D-Day with fundraising fun run

Over 100 runners laced up their sneakers in Saint John, N.B., Saturday to take part in the second annual ‘Bootin’ It For Vets’ fun walk and run.

Participants ran either one kilometre or five kilometres in support of the Ridgewood Veterans Wing, a long-term care home operated by Horizon Health Authority on the city’s west side. The funds raised through the run were donated to the wing’s comfort fund.

“They can get things that they need, just things that make their life better,” says Adam Richardson, an occupational therapist at Ridgewood. “It’s been a tremendous success.”

The festivities also featured a 100-metre walk for Ridgewood residents who were accompanied by loud applause when they walked and rolled down the track. Veteran’s achievements were highlighted over a loudspeaker during the run. The family event featured a barbecue, bouncy castle, touch-a-truck and local vendors, all raising money for local veterans.

For daily runners like Kyla Langille, signing up to support local veterans was an easy decision.

“It’s so special,” she says. “And it was so nice to see them out here doing the 100 metre and hearing all their special achievements.”

A pair of milestones add significance to this year’s event. Ridgewood is celebrating it’s 50^th anniversary while the Royal Canadian Legion marks its centennial year.

The run took place on June 6, the day Canadians stormed the beaches of Normandy during D-Day operations 82 years ago. A ceremony was held on Ridgewood’s property to allow those who served a chance to commemorate the historic moment ahead of the run.

Tom White is a veteran who lives at Ridgewood. He says taking part in a D-Day ceremony is always special for veterans.

“I celebrate it every year,” White says. “It’s important like a holiday for a certain group of people, the veterans.”

The short ceremony was welcomed by families of Ridgewood residents, like White’s son, Tom.

“It’s important to them,” Tom says. “It’s important to the families, and it just gives us a sense of community with all the other residents that are here.”

“It’s absolutely amazing,” says Shirley Fraser, who’s brother resides at Ridgewood. “He loves it, he loves to be in his uniform and he loves to represent everybody and peace.”

Richardson says there was a lot of excitement around the campus leading up to the weekend’s D-Day ceremony and fun run. He says outside of Remembrance Day, D-Day is the most important day of the year for many retired armed forces members.

“It’s really important that we honour the veterans,” says Richardson. “They’ve sacrificed so much for our country and given up themselves and it’s just really special for them.”

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