Sgt. Rob Nederlof has cycled over 3,000 kilometres across the Prairies during the past four years to support a mental health-related veterans’ program, and this year, he will be riding through Moose Jaw.
Nederlof is a mechanic with the Canadian Armed Forces and is based at Shilo, Man. He and his wife, Marina, will launch his fourth annual “Prairie Thousand” tour from Edmonton on Sunday, Aug. 11, and ride south through Calgary before journeying into Saskatchewan.
He will arrive in Tompkins, Sask., on Friday, Aug. 16, and then cycle to Morse the next day, followed by Moose Jaw on Sunday, Aug. 18. He finishes in Regina the next day.
This year’s endeavour — nicknamed the “Wild Roses and Living Skies Tour” to honour both provinces’ natural beauty — will see Nederlof cycle more than 1,100 kilometres, similar to the other three tours he has undertaken since 2021. His goal is to highlight mental health issues that affect veterans and EMS personnel by fundraising for the Wounded Warriors Canada’s PTSD support dog program.
Over the past three years, the soldier has raised $91,243.42 for the program. His goal this year is $8,756.58, which would bring the official total to $100,000 — although he would not be too disappointed to raise more than that.
His original fundraising goal when he started three years was $22,000.
Nederlof told the Moose Jaw Express that he is looking forward to this year’s trip “quite a bit,” while he is excited to meet people who are also enthusiastic about the cause. Furthermore, the trip allows him to take a break from work and shut off his mind from his everyday worries.
The 25-year soldier explained that he enjoys cycling, and one day while he was on a long ride, someone asked if he was fundraising for a cause. He initially said no but later realized he could do that.
So, he and his wife brainstormed ideas and decided to support Wound Warriors’ support dog program. The organization is a mental health service provider that offers programs to help veterans and first responders — and their families — dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“It’s a cause that’s near and dear to our hearts, and we will keep saying that,” Nederlof said.
The cycling tour has been important to Nederlof, who noted that it has its ups and downs depending on the weather and temperature.
“But mostly I enjoy cycling, so I suck it up and do it,” he chuckled. “A thousand kilometres now seems easy because I’ve done it three years in a row.”
The serving soldier has PTSD after serving three tours overseas in Bosnia and Afghanistan, while he also knows people with the disorder who require support.
He pointed out that it is expensive to acquire a service dog, but having a constant canine companion that knows its owner’s health challenges makes it easier to go through life and function normally — something a friend with a service dog confirmed.
It costs $15,000 to $20,000 to train one service dog, so Nederlof’s fundraising goal of $100,000 could support the development of five to six animals.
Nederlof thought it was “mind-blowing” and “a blessing in disguise” that he had raised $70,000 more than he had expected over the past three years.
The army mechanic’s PTSD has affected him significantly over the years, but cycling has helped him focus on supporting others. He has not thought of acquiring a service dog, pointing out he would need a strong reason to purchase one because of the costs.
“I’m happy that I don’t need one,” he added.
To support Nederlof’s 2024 Prairie Thousand cycling tour, email prairiethousand@gmail.com, visit prairiethousand.com, or see his Facebook page.
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