The Wayfinders Wellness Society invited locals to the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre Nov. 9 to participate in their annual “Sweat for a Vet” event.
The fourth annual event challenged participants to complete various body-weight exercises starting at 9:15 a.m., participate in a four-kilometre march, and follow it with a second gruelling workout at 12:10 p.m.
Stephanie Daglough, office manager and administrator with Wayfinders Wellness Society, said the event is done as an awareness campaign and a fundraiser to help the local non-profit continue its work to support veterans, military members, and first responders who are suffering from PTSD, occupational stress injuries (OSI), or are at the recovery stage of their wellness.
“We have so many things that we do and it’s fantastic,” Daglough said. “For anyone who is struggling with acute stages of PTSD or OSI injuries, we offer a great directory of services they can look into, to help get them started with the recovery process.”
Fitness programs coordinator, Stephanie Marello, was pleased with the turnout at this year’s Sweat for a Vet.
“We have 46 people participating in the workout and that’s a phenomenal number considering the last two years were in the middle of a pandemic,” Marello said. “We have some of our local RCMP, police, veterans, and we also have our Para-Olympic alpine ski team and they are participating today.”
President for the Wayfinders Wellness Society, Paul Wagman, said although it was cold outside and there were three events planned for the day, he was proud of the support shown by the community.
“What’s really unique about today is that Spray Lakes has done a five-day event,” Wagman said. “In the front lobby, we got memorabilia that we brought in from Wayfinders, the military museum, a Princess Patricia uniform, and a firefighter uniform as a visual example of the sacrifices our soldiers and veterans have made.
“For five days, people have been doing a stair-climbing challenge wearing an air tank on their back, and the impact is visual right away.”
He added the speeches before the workout discussing the sacrifices of veterans new and old, added to the poignancy of the occasion.
“There’s support, but we need to reflect on not just the past, and veterans that have served in World War II, but the real actual need for veterans and their families that exist right now,” Wagman said.
“And it’s good to see that attention being drawn.”
He also mentioned that due to continued growth, the Wayfinders Wellness Society is looking to fill open positions to better serve those who need their help.
“We are looking for new board members, in particular a secretary and vice-president,” Wagman said.
To apply for board membership or find more information regarding Wayfinders Wellness Society, please email [email protected].
