Soldier On Sports Recovery/Rehabilitation Fund

[clarkegeorge]

I wanted to know if your application for any reason is rejected is there an appeal process?? If so please send me in the right direction. Thanks for your time and consideration.

 

[Edward Campbell]

More on the South Pole Allied Challenge 2013 here, incl bios of MCpl Chris Downey and Cpl Alexandre Beaudin D’Anjou.

According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen the race, per se, is off but the three teams will still go to the South Pole - hopefully by next weekend.

 

[Takeniteasy]

Good day everyone, I am posting a link to another TSN Team Canada Sledge Hockey Profile. This one is of Cpl Dominic Larocques teamate Kevin Rempel, this storey includes Kevin's father who also suffered a spinal cord injury. Each one chose a different path and the outcomes were very different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1TfwIde9Jg

Andrew

Dominic Larocques becomes a World Champion again yesterday with Team Canada. Felicitations Dominic!
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/WSHC/2013-WSHC

 

[PuckChaser]

Dominic Larocques becomes a World Champion again yesterday with Team Canada. Felicitations Dominic!
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/WSHC/2013-WSHC

And he got an apple to boot!

 

[Edward Campbell]

According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen the race, per se, is off but the three teams will still go to the South Pole - hopefully by next weekend.

And, according to a report in The Straits Times, "Prince Harry on Friday became the first member of Britain's royal family to reach the South Pole after a three-week charity trek with injured military veterans from Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. Prince Harry and the 12 servicemen and women reached the globe's most southerly point at 1200 GMT following a 200-mile (320km) journey across the frozen wastes of Antarctica."

Edit: to add

And here is his call to the challenge sponsors reporting their safe arrival at the South Pole.

Well done to all, especially MCpl Chris Downey and Cpl Alexandre Beaudin D’Anjou of Canada.

 

[kratz]

With the Invictus Games in full swing, I'm surprised there has been no queries, comments or interest on the site ahead of the games or after the Opening Ceremony. I know some CAF members who were approved "Community Service" special leave in order to volunteer at the games. So the level of support from the military is quite high. Most events are free or cheap to attend. They've even brought in brand name stars for both ceremonies. No, the IG are not as big league as the Olympics, but the message the games sends to injured and ill members / veterans is a strong one.

#InvictusGames #IAM #IG2017 @InvictusToronto @IGTeamCanada #SoldierOn

 

[Gunner98]

The low attendance at the Opening Ceremonies despite the entertainment and the minimal tv coverage is unfortunately sending a message that although these Games are important to the participants, much like CISM or even the Special Olympics this does not have the same special meaning to the general public.  The continuing emphasis on PTSD of which more than half the Canadian team suffers is sending a mixed message. I am not aware of an international sporting competition dedicated to people with depression and heart disease.  I know some of the international participants at IG are cancer survivors or were injured in non-duty accidents so this too puzzles me.  Before anyone get excited and scream that I am comparing IG to Special Olympics, I am knowingly using it as an example of a special interest group that does not receive general public and media attention.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

I'll probably get slammed for this but I saw an interview on the bus to TO and the person was reaching for a box on a shelf and it slipped and hurt her neck/back.

Well I'm sure  there's no games for hundreds of WSIB injured reaching for something on a shelf.......

 

[kratz]

I agree with the comparisons:
- CISM athletics have led to Olympics,
- Invictus athletics compared to Para-Olympics.

I know the corporate funding (advertising, television etc...) is magnitudes lower for these games. With few exceptions, most Invictus events are free for the public, something rarely seen so broadly applied at Olympic level events. Even the recent Pan Am games (semi-professional feeder team) sold tickets to the public in Toronto, "at a low rate".

 

[kratz]

I like seeing that final events are sold out.

The wise will admire u. The wishful will envy u. The weak will hate u. This is the reality for those who dare to make a difference!#Invictus

 

[dapaterson]

If you're a Veteran participating in the Invictus games and get injured... Hope you have good medical insurance, because neither Soldier On nor VAC will cover your costs.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scott-snow-veterans-invictus-team-medical-insurance-1.7328066

 

[CountDC]

Ok, I don't see the issue there in regard to VAC. It is an injury after release. As for Soldier On it is something I would have asked and required a very clear answer in writing.

 

[PMedMoe]

Ok, I don't see the issue there in regard to VAC. It is an injury after release. As for Soldier On it is something I would have asked and required a very clear answer in writing.

Right in the article:

Insurance is mentioned just once in the 30-plus pages of the Solder On document explaining the terms and conditions for participating in the Invictus Games. The document says veterans should "consult with their personal insurance organization to confirm they are individually insured and have applicable health coverage" and that "costs for any additional health insurance purchased will not be reimbursed."


People just don't read. Should Soldier On brief them better? Yes, they should.

I'm a bit more outraged that VAC contributes huge amounts to Soldier On ($16M to host the 2025 games). It's a charity that appears to help only a select few, IMO.

 

[dapaterson]

Ok, I don't see the issue there in regard to VAC. It is an injury after release. As for Soldier On it is something I would have asked and required a very clear answer in writing.

Individuals selected to represent Canada in international competitions should be provided with medical coverage.

If CFMWS can't provide such coverage, perhaps they have outlived their utility.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I'm a bit more outraged that VAC contributes huge amounts to Soldier On ($16M to host the 2025 games). It's a charity that appears to help only a select few, IMO.

I can see why that's frustrating. A lot of still serving members benefit from Soldier On though. They promote physical activity, a healthy life style, getting out of the house, and socializing. Stuff a lot of our still serving and retired members moved away from. I've volunteered to support workshops on archery, kayaking, skiing, and a few other events. The sense of comradery from participants is palpable, so there is health and wellness benefits with supporting this. I don't think released members should be covered by VAC in the case of injury though. Soldier On should definitely figure out some kind of insurance thing.

 

[CountDC]

Individuals selected to represent Canada in international competitions should be provided with medical coverage.

If CFMWS can't provide such coverage, perhaps they have outlived their utility.

I agree that they should be provided coverage but that is not a VAC issue. Not sure how CFMWS plays into it or that it is a them thing. I think this issue is more between the members and Soldiers On. As MOE mentioned it is there in the documentation so the members should have been aware of their situation. I still think that Soldiers On should reach out to insurance companies to determine the willingness to provide insurance for the participants. Perhaps a discounted insurance based on sponsorship advertising or maybe SISIP can assist? At the end of day though it is on the members to ensure they have needed coverage.

 

[dapaterson]

I agree that they should be provided coverage but that is not a VAC issue. Not sure how CFMWS plays into it or that it is a them thing. I think this issue is more between the members and Soldiers On. As MOE mentioned it is there in the documentation so the members should have been aware of their situation. I still think that Soldiers On should reach out to insurance companies to determine the willingness to provide insurance for the participants. Perhaps a discounted insurance based on sponsorship advertising or maybe SISIP can assist? At the end of day though it is on the members to ensure they have needed coverage.

Soldier On is under the CFMWS umbrella.

And the affected individuals are not members. If they were CAF members, they would have coverage by the CAF. It is ill and injured released individuals who are being told "You're representing your nation, but you who have complex medical issues, some of which will likely preclude you being able to get medical coverage, for sports which may constitute high risk activities which are not normally insurable, are required to find and pay for your own comprehensive medical insurance."

 

[CountDC]

Soldier On is under the CFMWS umbrella.

Ah - didn't get that, years ago there was something in BC that was billed as soldiers on with no affiliation to with anything else so wasn't aware the program was actually under the umbrella. Seemed to be a stand alone thing.

And the affected individuals are not members. If they were CAF members, they would have coverage by the CAF. It is ill and injured released individuals who are being told "You're representing your nation, but you who have complex medical issues, some of which will likely preclude you being able to get medical coverage, for sports which may constitute high risk activities which are not normally insurable, are required to find and pay for your own comprehensive medical insurance."

Fully aware and wasn't referring to them as CAF members, they are members of the participating sports team. Insurance is something that does need to be dealt with. Are the Olympic and common-wealth competitors also left high and dry if they are injured?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Ah - didn't get that, years ago there was something in BC that was billed as soldiers on with no affiliation to with anything else so wasn't aware the program was actually under the umbrella. Seemed to be a stand alone thing.

Fully aware and wasn't referring to them as CAF members, they are members of the participating sports team. Insurance is something that does need to be dealt with. Are the Olympic and common-wealth competitors also left high and dry if they are injured?

These guys insure the Olympics.

tl;dr so I'm not sure to what level...

https://olympics.com/ioc/partners/allianz

 

[CountDC]

That looks like it might be a good start point for soldiers on. They even do the paralympic so seem a good match.