Media Advisory and Photo-Opportunities - Canada's First WoundedWarriors.ca Bike Team takes off for their ride of a lifetime through the battlefield of France and Belgium Français
Canadian team riding in the 2012 Big Battlefield Bike Ride to promote mental health awareness and recovery through physical fitness
WHITBY, ON, May 16, 2012 /CNW/ - On Friday, May 18, 23 Canadian Forces members will join riders supporting Britain's Help for Heroes in Portsmouth, England in preparation for the May 2012 Big Battlefield Bike Ride through France and Belgium. The six-day 550 kilometre ride runs from May 20 to May 26. The team is riding to increase awareness of and decrease the stereotypes around mental health issues, to raise funds for the treatment of Canadian Forces Members and for other more personal reasons - their own recovery therapy from Operational Stress Injuries (OSI).
The members are from all over Canada and are currently serving in Ontario. They will be cycling on Cervélo S2 bikes that were donated by the Canadian bicycle manufacturer.
There are a number of planned activities and photo opportunities that media will have access to during the Big Battlefield Bike Ride:
Thursday, May 17 | Wounded Warriors Bike Team depart Canada |
Friday, May 18 | Wounded Warriors Bike Team arrives in Salisbury, England |
Saturday, May 19 | Team lunch- RAC Bovington Museum |
Sunday, May 20 | Portsmouth - Caen (3.2 km) |
Riders gather in Portsmouth at 1pm in preparation for an 8:30pm start with photo session at 8pm - HMS Victory to Ferry terminal - arrive in Caen, France 0700hrs | |
Monday, May 21 | Caen - Dieppe (80km) |
11am time Start Fecamp (outside Le Havre) - arrive in Dieppe | |
Tuesday, May 22 | Dieppe - Amiens (120km) |
Stops at Grandcourt, Cauillon and Crouy British Cemetary | |
Wednesday, May 23 | Amiens - Arras (112km) - Photo-op |
Follow the river Somme, Stops at Beaumont-Hamel (Royal Newfoundland Regiment) | |
Thursday, May 24 | Arras - Ypres (112km) - Photo-op |
Via Vimy Ridge onto evening ceremony at Menin Gate (Special event for Canadian team) | |
Friday, May 25 | Ypres - Dunkirk (112km) |
Along the French Belgian border - ride ends at Dunkirk pier at 3pm (approx. time) | |
Saturday, May 26 | Dunkirk - Dover |
Sunday, May 27 | Queen's Jubilee Airshow - IWM Duxford |
Monday, May 28 | Ceremony of the Keys, Tower of London |
Thursday, May 31 | Arrival Canada |
To follow
Twitter: @wwcajames; @wwcaphil; @wwcawayne
Facebook: woundedwarriors.ca - photos and video will be posted at the end of each day
To donate/support a rider
http://woundedwarriors.ca/bike-ride-2012/
2012 Big Battlefield Ride
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/challenges-2012-big-battlefield-bikeride.html
About WoundedWarriors.ca
Founded in 2006, WoundedWarriors.ca is a non-profit organization that helps Canadian Forces members - be they full time or reservists - who have been wounded or injured in their service to Canada since 1990. We help find solutions for current and former members of the Canadian Forces where gaps have left them in need. While providing programs to all members of the Canadian Forces who have been wounded or injured, our primary focus is on reservist mental health. Our secondary focus is on physical health support, and tertiary focus is on life skills development for all members of the Canadian Forces who have been wounded or injured. For further information visit http://woundedwarriors.ca/.
To request and interview contact: Victoria Ollers, 416-822-2288, [email protected]; Paul Tyler, 905-235-2731, [email protected]
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