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Klees feted as people lace up and rock out for i Run and Rock

June 5, 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Jeff Doner

The second annual i Run and Rock fundraiser took place at the Ray Twinney Arena in Newmarket on Saturday, with rock band Glass Tiger headlining the event along with a tribute to MPP Frank Klees.

The event itself was to raise awareness and help raise funds to support first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Throughout the day, participants took part in a 1, 5 or 10 km run and then were treated to a free concert featuring local bands and headliner Glass Tiger. There was also a large silent auction with tons of great prizes.

Formed in 2013, United by Trauma consists of executive members and trauma survivors York Regional Police officer James Ward, Barrie Police officer Wayne Dufour, Nicole Taylor, an operating room nurse, military wife and owner of Taylor Made Yoga, and three time JUNO Award winner Sam Reid of Glass Tiger.

United by Trauma is integral in building awareness about PTSD and the impact it has on first responders in the medical field, emergency services and the military.

Former MPP Frank Klees was also recognized for his work as MPP by event organizers and Newmarket-Aurora PC candidate Jane Twinney.

“It’s great to be here and I want to thank everyone for making this day possible and what a great cause,” Klees told the arena, before thanking the event organizers and sponsors.

“What a great cause. As the former MPP, I was pleased to provide my support for this great initiative. Our first responders across this province deserve our recognition and our appreciation and that’s really what this is all about.”

Klees was presented with a special guitar for his efforts and contributions to the cause and to the riding of Newmarket-Aurora.

Twinney also offered some insight into her friendship and time working with Klees in the political arena, which started after she lost in a municipal election.

After receiving advice from MPP Julia Munro to speak with Klees, Twinney met him and began working with him through two of his campaigns.

“I learned so much from him and I never imagined that that day that I first met Frank that I would be here tonight,” she said. “I am honoured to be here and you mean the world to me.”

After Klees recently announced he would not run for re-election in the upcoming June election, Twinney stepped up to run for the Progressive Conservatives provincially.

Connecting him to the I Run and Rock fundraiser were previous efforts by Klees which led to the establishment of the inaugural First Responder’s Day in the Province of Ontario on May 1 to help raise awareness for first responders with PTSD.

         

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