Sgt. Rob Nederlof with the Canadian Armed Forces is ready to embark on his fourth annual bicycle ride across Alberta and Saskchwan to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warriors PTSD Support Dogs program. He will be riding more than 1,100 km over nine days and will be cycling through Medicine Hat on Aug. 16.--SUBMITTED PHOTO COURTESY MARINA NEDERLOF
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Sgt. Rob Nederlof with the Canadian Armed Forces who served three overseas tours of duty, including twice in Afghanistan and once in Bosnia, is cycling across Alberta and Saskatchewan for the Wounded Warriors Support Dog Program, with a stop in Medicine Hat.
Nederlof is a mechanic of Base Maintenance at CFB Shilo, Man., who is planning to bicycle more than 1,100 kilometres in August with the goal of drawing attention to mental health issues of veterans and first responders, while raising money to help fund the support dog program.
Since 2021, Nederlof’s bicycle fundraiser – called Prairie Thousand bicycle ride – has raised more than $91,000 for the Wounded Warriors PTSD Support Dog Program. This year Nederlof hopes to break beyond the $100,000 mark.
“We don’t go into this with any expectations,” explains Nederlof’s wife Marina. “But I feel very confident that our goal this year is highly attainable. The people on the Prairies and across Canada are generous, and we know they believe in the work we are doing.”
Through his military service, Nederlof has had his own journey with PTSD and says he is aware of the severity of the disorder and knows veterans who use support dogs to manage their disorder.
“The support dog is aware of when its owner is about to experience an attack,” says Nederlof. “It’s a cause that’s still near and dear to our hearts, and we will keep saying that.
“We live in a small town, and we know there are hundreds like it across Canada. When we go by them we think about how many people are volunteer firefighters that suffer mental injuries, too, and maybe they don’t know what help is available. We need to get the word out that there is help.”
Nederlof began training for the more than 1,100 km fundraiser in April and plans to cycle 52 km every day, starting from Edmonton on Aug. 11 and arriving home to CFB Shilo on Aug. 19.
Along his trip he is planning to make stops in Carstairs, Calgary, Strathmore, Brooks, Moose Jaw and Regina, and will be crossing the board Aug. 16 as Nederlof rides through Medicine Hat to Tompkins, Sask.
This year’s ride has been named “Wild Roses and Living Skies” to honour the natural beauty of the two provinces.
“We want to honour the vastness of these amazing provinces, the natural beauty of the land and the beautiful kindness of the people, many of whom are volunteers, first responders,” says Marina.
Wounded Warriors Canada is dedicated to providing education, counselling and training to support resilience and help Canadian veterans and first responders recover from post-trauma injuries and experiences.
The non-profit established its PTSD Service Dogs program in 2012, providing fully trained dogs to injured vets and first responders through the program.
The national mental health service provider provides veterans and first responders several programs including multi-day residential group counselling to help individuals deal with the negative effects of post-trauma symptoms.
Wounded Warriors also provides support to family members through couple and spousal resiliency programs, plus family programs and a kids camp.
Donations can be made online at prairiethounsand.com.
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