Community Steps Up Support for Troops

By Jeff Gravel
Local soldiers are finding support from the community at their fourth annual fundraising event on Saturday, September 20.
Trot with the Troops campaign is an initiative started by Delta Company, the civilian arm of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment. It raises money for the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) and the Essex and Kent Scottish Association. There were several events including a one kilometre fun run for children, as well as five and 10 kilometre competitions. These events took place while the soldiers completed their annual Battle Fitness Test, a 13 kilometre march wearing combat gear weighing approximately 45 pounds.
The MFRCs, the nearest of which is located in London, Ontario, are a non-profit organization that offers a variety of services to military members and their families. Major Kim Gilliland is a military chaplain for 4 Division in Toronto. He participated in the event and finished first in the 10 kilometre race.
“Its purpose is to help soldiers and their families adjust to military life and also help them get through some of the challenges of deployments,” said Gilliland.
Due to the extent and length of the war in Afghanistan, Canada relied heavily on its reserve force soldiers across the country. Essex County saw several of its sons and daughters deployed in support of the war effort.
Joining the soldiers this year on their Battle Fitness Test were Windsor firefighters, Kieran O’Rourke, Jeremi Taylor and Nick Stroesser. The firefighters marched alongside the soldiers wearing their helmets, oxygen tanks and entry tools, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds, in a show of support.
“A lot of those guys support the military…they have big respect for the troops,” said Stroesser.
This isn’t the first march for Firefighter Stroesser, nor is it the first time he has donned a uniform. Stroesser is a former soldier with an overseas deployment, nine years’ service with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment and four years in the Canadian Air Force, prior to becoming a Windsor firefighter attached to Station 7.
“Even though I’m not in anymore, I’m still in it in my mind,” said Stroesser.