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Emergency responders in Port Alberni welcome Wounded Warriors BC run

Alberni Valley Times - 3/7/2023

Emergency responders from the Alberni Valley escorted Wounded Warriors BC runners into Port Alberni on Thursday, March 2.

The procession of firetrucks, ambulances, police vehicles and Alberni Valley Rescue Squad vehicles surrounded the trio as they made their way over the Alberni Summit (the Hump) on Highway 4 from Qualicum Beach and into Port Alberni. Maria Marciano, a constable with Port Alberni RCMP, ran along with Amver Cinco, a master seaman with the Royal Canadian Navy, and Jacqueline Zweng, a reservist with the Regional Cadet Support Unit and run coordinator.

Cinco ran the entire nine kilometres up and over the Hump. "She's the first woman runner on our team to ever do that," Zweng said.

Port Alberni was one of several communities that hosted the runners on their trip down Vancouver Island. Runners set off on Sunday, Feb. 26 from Port Hardy.

Port Alberni has been a stop on the tour for many years (except for during COVID-19 restrictions); Marciano has participated every year. It's an emotional time for her, having lost a colleague under tragic circumstances in February four years ago. This year she was a member of the support team and not a regular runner, but she wanted to run into Port Alberni, she said.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 293 held a fundraising spaghetti dinner for the Wounded Warriors in Port Alberni, raising more than $4,150.

The run wrapped up Sunday, March 5 in greater Victoria. Runners have raised more than $135,000 so far, and organizers expect donations will trickle in for the next couple of weeks.

The run has raised close to $1 million in its 10 years, including through COVID-19.