Sergeant Rob Nederlof is cycles into CFB Shilo Base Maintenance during his To the Shield, Prairie Thousand cycle tour fundraising for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program raising awareness of mental health issues. His cycle journey made the half way point at CFB Shilo on Aug. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag
A bicycle ride ‘To the Shield’ hit the halfway point and more than $5,000 in fundraising donations when Sergeant Rob Nederlof pedalled into CFB Shilo Base Maintenance to a crowd of cheering supporters, on Aug. 15.
The effort is to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program and bring awareness to mental health issues, said Nederlof’s wife, Marina Nederlof.
Captain Murray Abo of Base Maintenance organized the welcome gathering of more than 40 supporters at CFB Shilo.
“As part of the CAF, we are one big green family. This is important to us because he is our shining light … the example that we want others to follow in his footsteps. We want others to understand the importance [of his initiative].”
“Today, we are here to show support, camaraderie and ‘esprit de corp’,” Capt. Abo told Shilo Stag News.
After cycling in amid praise and applause, Sgt. Nederlof said the encouragement was “awesome.”
” I knew I was going to get a good reception here. I was getting excited and couldn’t get here fast enough,” he said.
It’s the third year Nederlof has undertaken the Prairie Thousand cycling tour to raise funds and awareness for Wounded Warriors’ and PTSD.
“Too many of my friends have suffered with PTSD. It cripples them so much and they can’t get the help they need. With a support dog, they can actually start to function … again.”
Support dogs are intuitive and predictive, sensing a situation may arise when anxiety and stressors increase. The cost to train and raise a support dog is an average $15,000 and takes two years.
The fundraising route across the prairies sees the lone cyclist travelling on two wheels- powered only by the human push 1,000 kilometres from Alberta, across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with the final destination as Kenora, ON., in the geographic region known as the Canadian Shield.
The ride, To the Shield, pays homage to the personnel, veterans and EMS who serve Canadians daily and draws light to the significance of mental health and PTSD.
Nederlof’s journey is in tandem with his wife, who drives the support vehicle behind him as he rides the highways.
“This is our way to get people talking about mental health and for [the issues] to become normalized,” Marina said, adding an anonymous donor has pledged to dollar-match all donations up to $50,000.
After catching his breath at the meet and greet with supporters and sponsors on Base, Nederlof mounted back on his bike saddle. He was accompanied by a contingent of fellow support cyclists, CAF vehicles and Cornwallis Police Department escorting him 8 kilometres to Douglas where they said farewell as he headed down the highway to complete the second half of his campaign to his final destination.
To support Nederlof and donate to the Prairie Thousand fundraising efforts click on the link To The Shield.
A group of more that 40 cheering supporters encouraged Sergeant Rob Nederlof onward as part of his To the Shield, Prairie Thousand cycle tour fundraising for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program and raising awareness of mental health issues. His cycle journey made the way point at CFB Shilo on Aug. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Sergeant Rob Nederlof is hugged by Capt. Murray Abo after arriving at Base Maintenance as part of his To the Shield, Prairie Thousand cycle tour fundraising for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program and to raise awareness of mental health issues. His cycle journey made the way point at CFB Shilo on Aug. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Sergeant Rob Nederlof arrived at Base Maintenance with Cornwallis Police Department accompaniment as part of his Prairie Thousand cycle tour fundraising for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program and to raise awareness of mental health issues. His cycle journey made the way point at CFB Shilo on Aug. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Sergeant Rob Nederlof arrived at Base Maintenance with Cornwallis Police Department accompaniment as part of his Prairie Thousand cycle tour fundraising for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program and to raise awareness of mental health issues. His cycle journey made the way point at CFB Shilo on Aug. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Sergeant Rob Nederlof departs CFB Shilo after arriving at the halfway point of his To the Shield, Prairie Thousand cycle tour fundraising for the Wounded Warriors PTSD support dog program and to raise awareness of mental health issues. His cycle journey made the way point at CFB Shilo on Aug. 14. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.