Hillier To Help Raise Funds For Wounded

[kiwi]

Hillier To Help Raise Funds For Wounded
Faces Of War Art
Adam Huras, National Post
Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2007

A celebration this week of Canada's global military contribution will be highlighted by The Faces of War, a series of sketches of soldiers by National Post graphics editor Richard Johnson.

The Kandahar portraits and a keynote address from Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, are all part of a dinner to benefit the Wounded Warriors Fund, established to aid men and women whose lives are changed by injuries sustained while on duty in places like Afghanistan.

"When a soldier is injured they are brought to a U.S. military hospital, typically in Germany," said Gord Clarke, president of the Toronto Branch of The Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada. "So they are there alone, left with their clothes, and that's about it. What this fund does is send them distinctly Canadian items to help them with their recovery."


The fund also helps provide money for family members of the wounded to travel and visit in hospital.

As well, the fundraising dinner on Friday at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel by RMC alumni from the Toronto branch, will establish a bursary that allows members of the Reserve Forces to attend RMC.

"This is particularly significant to have in Toronto because the GTA doesn't have a lot of regular force military presence, unlike Halifax, Victoria or Edmonton," said Mr. Clarke.

The dinner will prominently display The Faces of War, a set of drawings sketched by Mr. Johnson during six weeks in Afghanistan.

"They help put human faces to what is going on, as well as really showing that there are Canadians from all walks of life joined with the Canadian Forces to try and make the world, and in this case Afghanistan, a better place," Mr. Clarke said. "It is an honour for the RMC to showcase these drawings at this event to celebrate Canada's global military contribution." - For dinner tickets, donations or more information visitwww.toronto.rmcclub.ca/leadershipdinner.htm