Sgt. Rob Nederlof at the start of the 2023 ride in Saskatoon. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

BIKING 1,100 KILOMETRES

Soldier goes great lengths to support Wounded Warriors support dog program

Jul 3, 2024 | 2:15 PM

Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) mechanic Sgt. Rob Nederlof will be biking 1,100 kilometres across Alberta and Saskatchewan to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Service Dog program, a service he has done for the last three years as The Prairie Thousand.

The program pairs support animals with veterans and first responders that suffer from PTSD. These animals offer companionship, emotional support, and can help manage symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks.

He will start his ride in Edmonton on August 11 and aims to reach Regina, Saskatchewan by August 19. If all goes to plan, Nederlof will be biking from Lacombe to Carstairs on August 12.

A more detailed route schedule can be found on the website, and people are welcome to join him on the ride when he is in their area. Individuals wishing to do so are encouraged to contact him ahead of time to arrange a meet-up through prairiethousand@gmail.com, the contact page on the website, or the Facebook page.

In his first three years of the ride, he raised a total of $69,243.42, surpassing his $22,000 goal and this year, hopes to raise $8756.58. This would bring his total amount raised in four years to an even $100,000.

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“The Nederlofs’ ongoing support, through their tireless efforts with the Prairie Thousand, are truly making a difference. They’re not just providing vital financial resources, but they’re also raising awareness and inspiring others to get involved. Their commitment is a shining example of how we can all come together to support our Trauma Exposed Professionals,” says Steve Topham, Wounded Warriors Canada’s director of national partnerships.

The sergeant has been on three tours of duty since joining the CAF; one in Bosnia, and two in Afghanistan, and has had his own experiences with PTSD. Nederlof says he wants to support those veterans and first responders that have experienced similar occupational trauma.

Sgt. Nederlof serves at the base in Shilo, Manitoba. Beginning in the fourth week of April, he began training by biking his 52 kilometre trek from the base to his home in Wawanesa every day.

This year’s ride has been dubbed “Wild Roses and Living Skies” to celebrate the natural beauty of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“We want to honour the vastness of these amazing provinces, the natural beauty of the land and the beautiful kindness of the people, many of whom are volunteers, first responders, and service men and women, those who serve Canadians”, his wife and logistical supporter Marina Nederlof says.

Wounded Warriors, is a mental health service provider that offers a range of clinically facilitated programs specifically developed to support veterans and first responders and their families. Previous rides of Nederlof’s have included Manitoba and Ontario routes as well.

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