By Thia James

Former soldier makes P.A. stop during PTSD Walk

May 5, 2015 | 6:23 AM

A former soldier who is walking the final leg of her cross-Canada journey to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stopped in Prince Albert on Monday evening.

Kate MacEachern began this portion of her walk, from Nipawin to Chilliwack, B.C., on Friday. In 2012, she walked from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia, and then in 2013, she walked from Cape Breton, N.S. to Ottawa.

When MacEachern walked southbound down the Diefenbaker Bridge, she was greeted by a colour party at its base. The colour party was made up members of different legions in the area, the Prince Albert Army, Navy and Air Force Unit 222 (ANAVETS), the Prince Albert Police Service, Cadets and correctional service guards.

In attendance was Prince Albert Police Service Chief Troy Cooper. For him, he said, it’s a recognition of the issue. He said PTSD affects a lot of police officers as well as members of the military, and fire and emergency services.

“And it’s something that for many, many years it wasn’t discussed. It was a hidden disorder, something that people had to suffer through in silence,” he said.

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“And I think the time for that is over. I think it’s time now that we started acknowledging that it’s there and looking for ways to address it and make sure that our staff have … the support they need so they can remain well.”

The ANAVETS hosted of a free supper that evening in honour of MacEachern’s walk. All donations made were directed to PAWS Fur Thought, which is one of the four organizations which will receive a portion of the funds raised through the walk.

MacEachern, the founder of the Long Way Home organization, will also be making stops in North Battleford and Lloydminster. She plans to arrive in Chilliwack on July 24.

To read more about MacEachern’s journey, click here. 

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames