By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Former British soldier Ian Mawson, now Penticton resident and BC Corrections officer at the Okanagan Correctional Centre outside Oliver undertook his mission to run 60 km from the Osoyoos Cenotaph to the Penticton Cenotaph.
Dubbed “Operation Cenotaph” Mawson passed through Oliver on Saturday morning (Sept. 7) where he said the run had two key components.
The first involves raising awareness and money around mental health issues within Canada’s uniformed services through the Wounded Warriors Canada charity which provides mental health support including education, counselling, and training approaches to support recovery from post-trauma injuries.
And the second objective “is to remember all of the fallen Canadian Armed Forces personnel that took part in Afghanistan. The flag that I’m carrying currently is emblazoned with all of the names of those service personnel,” he added.
Observing a moment of silence at the Oliver Cenotaph.
“This run is extremely important in helping raise awareness about mental health issues and is a chance for the communities of the towns that I will run through to take a moment and remember all those who have fallen for Canada in their service to their country,” Mawson added.
This is his first big awareness/fund raising event he said, adding that last year he did a smaller one for Honour House which provides a place to stay, free of charge, for Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, Emergency Services Personnel and their families while they are receiving medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area.
Ian Mawson’s flag is emblazoned with the names of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel that lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Mawson was met by an Oliver Legion colour guard at the Oliver Cenotaph where the assembled group observed a moment of silence for fallen Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
On Sept. 14, Operation Cenotaph will see a fundraiser held at Tin Whistle Brewery in Penticton from 7-11 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person with all proceeds going to Wounded Warriors Canada and the ticket includes one drink and paella which is being donated and cooked on-site by the Chulo Tapas restaurant.
Tickets can be purchased here and to donate to Wounded Warriors Canada visit the WWC website.
Members of the Oliver Legion greet Mawson with a colour guard.
Ian Mawson (centre) with Oliver Councillor Dave Mattes (left) and Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen (right).
