DUNKERQUE, France, June 11, 2016 /CNW/ - 150 Canadians crossed the English Channel into Calais, France June 11, concluding Day 1 of the 2017 Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride at the historic port town of Dunkerque. They then began a 600km journey through the battlefields and cemeteries of World War I, which will culminate on Friday, June 16, at Vimy Ridge.
“Together we will explore lands soaked in the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice of the Canadians and men of the Dominion of Newfoundland who served during the First World war.” Phil Ralph, Wounded Warriors Canada National Program Director.
The Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride is comprised of Veterans, Canadian Forces members, First Responders and citizens from across the country.
The ride has so far raised nearly $700,000, which will directly fund programs supporting the lives of our ill and injured Veterans, First Responders and their families living with Operational Stress Injuries such as PTSD.
To keep track of the day-by-day progress of the riders, and to see photos and videos of the event, please visit their daily tracker page: www.bbr17.ca/ride-tracker
The Mission of the bike ride is posted on The Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride website: https://woundedwarriors.ca/bbr17/
Although July 1, 1867 and April 9, 1917 are separated by 50 years in time, in many ways they are inextricably linked to our identity as a nation. Confederation declared our political independence and Vimy declared our place in the world.
The 2017 Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride (BBR17) will begin in London, England where the ride team will gather. From there it is off to Canterbury and then the beautiful cliffs of Dover for the short ferry ride to Calais – allowing us to step back in time and imagine our forefathers initial embarkation on French soil during the First World War.
Calais and Dunkirk mark the first part of the journey in France where the tour will pass through sites stepped in Canadian military history and sacrifice. Together we will explore lands soaked in the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice of the 619,638 Canadians and 11,988 men of the Dominion of Newfoundland who served during the First World War.
We will remember and honour the nearly 61,000 Canadians and 1,305 men of Newfoundland who gave their lives. Close to 172,000 were wounded during the course of the conflict and countless thousands more bore the invisible wounds from the conflict. Our journey of remembrance towards Vimy will take us through the storied battlefields of Flanders, The Somme and The Ypres Salient.