The third annual Northumberland Walk for the Wounded took place on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
Twenty-five participants including police and firefighters took part in the annual event walking from Hastings to Cobourg.
While most people were sleeping, the walkers started out at 4 a.m. from Hastings Marina and walked 42-kilometres down County Road 45 to the Northumberland OPP Detachment in Cobourg.
Along the way, each person was carrying 22-pounds in their backpacks and every hour did 22 push-ups.
Each year the event is organized by Northumberland OPP Constable Dylan Misseri with all proceeds going in support of first responders, military members and veterans mental health.
“It was a hard day – but a good one,” said Misseri just moments after arriving in Cobourg.
After a quick greeting by family members and friends who were waiting at the detachment, participants completed the last of their 22 push-ups.
Just past Baltimore, the oldest walker in the group, Constable Adam Quemby, was challenged by others to do a cartwheel.
Misseri said it wasn’t a perfect one, but he completed the challenge to the applause of the other walkers.
“This is all for mental health services for first responders, veterans and active military personnel. All the funds go to Wounded Warriors Canada and in turn to mental health services.”
Misseri said, “mental health stigma is still around. Less talk, more walk is what they say. Things are done with actions not just words.”
Misseri said its about getting the word out, and hopefully getting the donations in.
The 22-pounds and 22 push-ups are for the 22 veterans that commit suicide every day throughout Canada and the United States.
“It’s about getting out there about mental illness that you’re not alone if you’re suffering. There is always support out there.”
This year was no different than the others for Misseri with the last eight kilometres being the toughest.
“That is where it gets you. When you’re looking inside yourself thinking “why am I here,” and “why am I doing this?”
“That’s when you have to dig deep and know that it’s for a good cause and you’re doing it to support all those people that need those services.”
This year’s walk had the most participants.
“There’s a lot of people here that I’ve never met before and throughout walking you have great conversations.”
Port Hope firefighters, Travis Dares, Selina Boss and Gloria Koslowski also took part in the walk.
Dares did something unique this year by wearing a SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) on his back.
It was an older SCBA that weighed 32-pounds.
Dares said the walkers set a great pace at the beginning.
“The last 10-kilometres was just a killer – you want it to end and everything’s hurting.”
Coming down the hill and seeing the end was the hardest part.
“When you can see it – but you’re not quite there yet.”
The total distance for the participants was 42-kilometres with approximately 53,000 steps, 198 push-ups completed in approximately nine hours.
For more information walkforthewounded.ca.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
