Invitation extended to join in September 27 Valley route, awareness
Sailor First Class (retired) Matthew Galloway is hoping September 27 isn’t too hot, that his feet hold out, and that the end of his 40-kilometre rucksack march from Middleton to Greenwood and back isn’t as quiet as his first Never Marching Alone challenge was.
Galloway, currently an electrical student at NSCC Middleton, set out August 23 on his inaugural Never Marching Alone adventure, leaving the cenotaph at Sullivan’s Pond in Dartmouth to arrive at 12 Wing Shearwater and the Army Navy Air Force Association Unit 349. He’s walking in solidarity with veterans, first responders and their families, with the 40-pound rucksack representing the mental health burdens many of them live with.
“The Dartmouth march was meaningful for me personally but, I’ll be honest, the finish line was quiet,” Galloway says. “In a way, that silence reflected the very message behind the march: too many veterans and first responders carry their burdens alone.”
His second outing, coming up September 27, comes with a clear invitation for the community to support his efforts to raise awareness, funds for the Never Marching Alone fundraising beneficiary, Wounded Warriors Canada; and even join him on part or all of the route. He’ll start at 8 a.m. from the NSCC Middleton campus and trek Highway 201 to Greenwood; returning to Middleton in a loop just after 4 p.m.
“Anyone who has an interest in joining is welcome – whether by walking part of the route, cheering at the finish or simply being present. There is no requirement to carry weight – some may choose to, while others may simply walk without it. Both are equally meaningful. And there is no expectation to walk the full distance – even joining for a short stretch helps create awareness and adds to the impact of the march.”
Galloway has spoken to a number of people as he’s developed the Never Marching Alone project, including on that first Dartmouth walk.
“I’ll admit, at first I was hesitant to invite others to walk this event with me,” he says. “Mental health has long been a difficult subject to raise, and I didn’t want to put that burden on anyone else. But, I’ve learned that many people truly want to be part of this effort. Whether someone carries a rucksack or none at all, everyone is included. In the end, it’s not about what’s on your back – it’s about the fact that we walk together.”
Galloway’s longer-term vision is to make Never Marching Alone an annual undertaking, growing each year as a reminder the invisible burdens carried by many in uniform should never be borne in silence, and how important it is to spark conversations between individuals who may feel alone, and the people, communities and organizations that support them.
For information on Never Marching Alone, the September 27 Middleton to Greenwood ruck march and a third planned for October 25 in Port Hawkesbury; contact Galloway via email at nevermarchingalone@gmail.com or Facebook @ Never Marching Alone.
