The Rolling Barrage returns to Okotoks this week.
It's an annual event where a procession of motorcyclists ride across Canada to raise money and awareness for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans and first responders.
Their journey started in St. John's, Newfoundland on July 27 and is expected to end in Vancouver on August 17.
The procession will be rolling down the hill on Veterans Way in Okotoks on August 14 at about 5:45 p.m. with a meet and greet scheduled to start around 7 p.m. at The George.
They'll also be stopping in Diamond Valley for breakfast at the Turner Valley Legion the following day.
Okotoks has been a part of the route since 2019, when Okotokians Carola and Shawn Singer arranged for the riders to stop in town.
Since then, the Okotoks stop has grown in popularity, and more people and organizations have been lending a hand. That includes the Rotary Club of Okotoks, who set up flags along Veterans Way and will be helped by the Okotoks Scouts, as well as Okotoks RCMP, and Okotoks Fire and Rescue.
That's not to mention the lines of Okotokians who show up to Veterans Way each year to wave and show their support for the riders.
Carola, who currently serves as the Rolling Barrage's CMO and Treasurer, says it's been wonderful to see more and more Okotokians supporting the event each year.
"There are so many people involved who have stepped up, it's quite overwhelming in a good way... It's quite emotional every year when I see all the support because it's an immense pride in our community and the riders really really cherish that."
As always, Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson will be among the riders rolling through town.
He's a longtime supporter of the Rolling Barrage and has a personal connection to the cause.
"Both Carola and Shawn are close friends of ours, and having had family in the military and a father that served as a first responder, I grew up in a family that experienced some of the stressors that come from those types of jobs. Prior to even being in politics, I went out on a ride. The experience I had there, the conversations I had, really was impactful to me. It showed me how important it was to raise the stigma around this, to raise awareness, and to be able to connect with the individuals suffering from PTSD to let them know that they're not alone in this space," says Sigurdson.
Funds raised during the event go to several organizations that support people living with PTSD, says Singer.
"One of them I'd like to give a shoutout to is Can Praxis, and they're actually going to have representation at our event in Okotoks. It's an equine therapy program for first responders and military members... There are other organizations like Veterans Adventures, which is done out of the Jasper Legion. Obviously, they're not going to be able to do anything until they're set up again. There's also Operation Pegasus, Mending on the Fly, service dogs organizations. It's a big list and we have a great vetting process in place to make sure the funds go where they need to go."
A 50/50 is also being held for the Jasper Legion, which will assist those affected by the wildfires.