
Marching with purpose
[caption id="attachment_19000" align="alignnone" width="591"] The final cut for this year’s team was made in early June. Here’s a list of this year’s participants: Lt(N) Haley van Poorten, Team Leader; PO1 Rayon Murdock, 2IC; Cpl Rhys Murphy, medic; Capt Gary Leblanc; Lt(N) Rebecca Granham; A/SLt Ashvin Chawla; CPO2 Armand Reelick; WO Nathan Verhoog; MS Kevin Simons; LS Luke Foebe; Cpl Javier Sanchez-Bringas. Alternates: Lt(N) Mike McKenna, and A/SLt Soheil Nasira.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you frequent the Galloping Goose Trail between Sooke and Victoria you may have noticed military members wearing CADPAT and rucksacks marching in formation. The group have been marching virtually three days per week since February, logging over 700 kilometres, to prepare for a march of a lifetime - the Four Days International Marches Nijmegen. After battling the sweat and blisters of training, Maritime Forces Pacific’s Nijmegen marching team is ready to put boots on the ground in the Netherlands July 17 to 20. The 13-member team includes two alternate marchers, and will be led by Lieutenant (Navy) Haley van Poorten. The annual event, now in its 102nd year, involves four days of 40 kilometre marches through the Dutch countryside. This year’s event is expected to draw approximately 47,000 participants. “Marching long distances in military boots takes its toll on your body and everyone reacts differently, but the most common injuries are blisters on toes and heals, and repetitive stress injuries in the ankle, hip, knee and shin,” said Lt(N) Haley van Poorten. “But it is to be expected, we have a positive attitude and deal with the injuries and any of the setbacks in a smart and open way, because trying to hide them means they will just get worse.”To cope with the tedium and build camaraderie the team often sings as they march. They aren’t the only...