RUCK 2 REMEMBER
For the first time ever District F will be part of the Ruck with President Myrna Picotte Branch 606 Bay Ridges graciously accepting to host the members of the Ruck 2 Remember 2021 (R2R21). The Branch will provide a meal on the Friday night September 17th with the team staying overnight and then providing them with breakfast on the 18th.
Comrades these team members do an amazing job and raise a substantial amount that is given to our "Leave the Streets Behind" program.
Myself and our Deputy Dave are planning on attending on the Friday night to support all involved and if you are in the area please come out and support everyone as well. There will be more information provided as it gets closer.
Once the cheques have been sent to Ontario Command, they will contact me prior to the event and Dave and I will have a large display cheque to present showing our donations.
DONATIONS ARE TO GO TO ONTARIO COMMAND ON THE PAYEE LINE WITH R2R'21 TO BE PUT ON THE MEMO PORTION (BRANCH WILL RECEIVE LETTER OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECEIPT NOT VALID FOR TAX PURPOSES)
DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC GO TO ONTARIO COMMAND PAYEE LINE WITH JOE SWEENEY FUND IN THE MEMO ( TAX VALID AND LETTER OF ACKNOWLEGEMENT SENT OUT) FOR THE JOE SWEENEY FUND.
Please let's show our support for this most worthy cause as well as to Branch 606 and the Executive and members.
Show the District F pride, heart and commitment that we have always had when it comes to supporting our Veterans
Comrades: I would like you to push the donations to the Ruck 2 Remember to be held at Branch 606 Pickering this year.
To date donations are slow to come in and if your Branch is donating and have sent it in it is greatly appreciated however if you wish to present your cheque at the Poppy seminar, we are more than glad to accept it and see that Ontario Headquarters gets it.
I am fully aware some Branches have more than others in their accounts and I am not asking those Branches to drain their account but if they could donate even $100.00 that would be great. We do have Branches with considerable amounts in their accounts as stated many times at the end of February there was in excess of $800,000.00 not including investments in this District.
I am putting out a challenge to those Branches who do have large accounts to match Branches 67 Lindsay and Branch 322 Ajax who have contributed $10,000.00 to this event and it is greatly appreciated. If you cannot match it, please donate what you can.
Dave and myself, Zone Commanders Judy Heasman and Linda Battams will be there to meet Lino and his team and we will do a cheque presentation then once we tally all the donations. It is my understanding that Provincial President Garry Pond and possibly 1st Vice Derek Moore will also be there. ANYONE WO WISHES TO ATTEND IT IS MORE THAN WELCOME. I WILL SEND OUT DETAILS REGARDING THE ROUTE AND TIME SOON.
Comrades I realize that you have received emails regarding this more than once however the Homeless program is very dear to me and all members of our District and as this is our first time being involved, I really want our District to shine more than it already does. Let's be the great District we are and contribute to this program that has assisted 950 Veterans to date, 97 females in 187 towns. In speaking with Jen LeClair yesterday she advised me that each apartment kit alone handed out costs $2,500.00.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROJECT IT IS A GREAT ONE.
THANKS YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND HAVE DONE!!
Regards
Lynn Deering
District Commander
Comrades: I am receiving lots of questions regarding the Ruck so here is a brief summary of what it is about.
The Ruck 2 Remember started 8 years ago to honour those Veterans who were killed in Afghanistan. A group of Veterans got together and walked carrying a knapsack with bricks in it and each brick had the name of a Veteran who was killed in Afghanistan. Once they reached their destination, they made a memorial using the bricks to honour those fallen 165 Veterans.
Lino Di Julio a Veteran has been a huge advocate for this project and marches every year. This year Lino and 4 others are marching 2 kms for every Veteran, first responders, paramedics and police officers that died the year before a total of 65 for 130 kms. The funds raised will go to support our Leave the Streets Behind project to help those experiencing homelessness or facing possible homelessness and transitioning them into sustainable living situations.
ALL FUNDS FROM THIS GO TO OUR LEAVE THE STREESTS BEHIND PROJECT AND THIS GROUP DOES NOT TAKE ANY FUNDS PERSONALLY FOR THEIR OPERATIONS FROM THIS FUNDRAISING!
Branches DO NOT NEED AN SUF to support this group and for the first time ever they will be marching through our District and they will be at Branch 606 Bay Ridges (Pickering) where they will be given supper and the Branch will be doing a BBQ and fundraising open to all to support them. They will sleep overnight at the Branch and have breakfast before continuing on their route that will end up in Aurora/Newmarket.
As Branches in this District at the end of February were sitting on over $800,000.00, I would ask that your Branch give some serious thought to donating to this most worthwhile project.
Cheques are to be written out to Ontario Command and in the memo, line please put R2R21
Again, no SUF is required and Comrades I realize some Branches have more than others however every donation received no matter the amount will be greatly appreciated. Comrade Dave and myself will be in touch with Ontario Command prior to the event and we will be attending to issue a display cheque showing the amount raised. Everyone is welcome to attend and once we know the route, we will post it so perhaps you can be there and support them in their march.
Last year District A raise $24,100.00 it would be great if this District could surpass that amount.
Let's give support to a project we all hold dear to us. Lino and his group have done an amazing job raising funds over the past 8 years to support our Leave the Streets Behind project.
You can go to the Ontario Command Website www.on.legion.ca Home Page and click on " Get more Details to find out more.
Regards
Lynn Deering
District Commander