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Updated: Grey Cup in Red Deer to raise funds for military families

Money raised will go to the Military Family Resource Centre and be used locally

The Grey Cup arrived in Red Deer in style on Friday.

CFL’s hallowed trophy was given a military escort to the West Park Retirement Lodge Friday morning led by a pair of G-Wagons, the modern Canadian military’s version of the Jeep.

The trophy was in town as part of a fundraiser for the Military Family Resource Centre, an organization that supports military families with counselling, retreats and other services. More than $20,000 was expected to be raised in Central Alberta, with all of the money staying in the community to help local veterans and their families.

“Our role here is to take care of military families and support them, whatever their needs might be,” said Gord Young, executive director of the Calgary-based resource centre.

“Whether they’re new to the city or they’ve been here for a while, whether their loved one is off on a deployment or an exercise, we support them.”

This is the second year for the fundraiser in Red Deer, which was to include a golf tournament but the weather forced organizers to cancel that.

A silent auction and barbecue was scheduled Friday evening to continue the fundraising.

“This year we’re focusing on health and wellness programs for people that have PTSD (post-traumatic-stress-disorder),” said Young. “We’re working to support them and their families through the recovery process.”

The centre connects military personnel and their families with counsellors and to programs and services. There is access to support and intervention services, social activities and events, personal development workshops, family separation and reunification support, crisis intervention, and child and youth programs.

The Calgary centre is one of 43 in Canada. The centres were created in 1991 by the Department of National Defence in conjunction with the Military Family Support Program.



pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com

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Grey Cup keeper Jeff McWhinney lets Rusalin Orbo get a close look at the famous trophy at the West Park Retirement Lodge on Friday. The cup was there to raise funds for the Military Family Resource Centre. Photo by PAUL COWLEY/Advocate staff