One spirited effort
The True Patriot Love Expedition team of Canadian business leaders and injured soldiers recently returned from Magnetic North Pole, concluding the largest expedition of its kind.
Travelling over 125 kilometres on skis and carrying their gear, food and a Google Maps Trekker to collect Street View imagery of their journey, the participants worked together to reach their physical and fundraising goals as a team.
The team of 24 corporate leaders and 12 injured soldiers conquered the challenges posed by long days and nights in extreme weather in support of military mental health.
“This was an opportunity like no other to meet some soldiers who fought to defend our country,” said Caroline Ouellette, captain of the National Women’s Hockey Team and expedition team member. “We often hear about the mental and physical injuries that soldiers come home with, but meeting these soldiers and sharing this expedition with them made it all real and personal.”
One of the soldiers on the expedition was Sgt.BjarneNielsen, who lost a leg during his service in Afghanistan. “This kind of expedition would not be possible without the support of the team you are with, just like you cannot make it on your own when you are on a mission,” explained Sgt. Nielsen.
As part of this expedition, to be made into a documentary on the History Channel later this year, the team shared duties carrying a Google Maps Trekker backpack. This is the furthest north Street View on Google Maps has travelled.
The funds raised through the expedition will be directed to care and services for ill and injured soldiers and to mental health support programs. The expedition also aimed to raise awareness of operational stress injuries.
Trekkers included Jim Leech, former CEO of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan; Bruce Rothney, CEO of Barclays Canada; Paul Desmarais Jr., CEO of Power Corp.; Paul Desmarais III, SVP Great-West Lifeco; Dougal Macdonald, president, Morgan Stanley; Francois Olivier, president, Transcontinental; Caroline Ouellette, captain of Women’s National Hockey Team; Claudia Hepburn, executive director, Next 36; Susan McArthur, managing partner, GreenSoil Investments; and Andy Chisholm, managing director, Goldman Sachs.
Sponsors included Scotiabank, Power Corporation, Shaw Television, Goldman Sachs Gives, Canada Goose, Morgan Stanley, Magris Resources, Barclays, Etherington and Associates, ATCO Structures and Logistics and Medcan. Over $1-million was raised.