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Thorold Legion helps veterans with PTSD

It's apt that Maverick the service dog was born on Remembrance Day.

At first glance, Maverick may appear to be like any other mild-mannered service dog; man’s best friend.

Then you see him actually put his paws around his owner, Graham Bettes, and hug him, and realize the dog is much more than that.

Bettes, a veteran of a United Nations peacekeeping mission, suffers from panic attacks and other symptoms triggered by PTSD, and mused, “Sometimes I think I’m more of a service human to him.”

Fittingly, Maverick was born on Remembrance Day.

“He helps wake me up from nightmares, and makes me get out of bed in the morning, and without him I wouldn’t have the courage to leave the house,” Bettes told ThoroldNews.

The Thorold Legion recently hosted an evening of music, featuring local bands made up of EMS personnel, who performed at no cost to the Legion executive.

Bettes, who plays in the Pubjugs band, met Legion executive member Jeannie Soper, who manages the bands for the Legion’s weekly free concerts. That led to the Legion supplying space to help other veterans experiencing PTSD.

“Graham started the support group upstairs for PTSD,” she explained.

All proceeds made at the EMS show were presented to Bettes this week, in the amount of $860, which Norm and Rose Fowler “topped off to $1,000” said Soper.

Bettes said the funds will provide free jiu jitsu training to veterans.

“This specific donation will buy a global membership for people who need the training on the road. Two or three service dogs are there during the training.”

“The group was established in the U.S.,” he explained, “for veterans currently serving in the military, as well as essential services; the same demographic as our support group for PTSD.”

The free training takes place Sundays from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Evolve MMA gym, 325 Welland Ave. in St. Catharines.

The Thorold Legion hosts the Oathtaker PTSD Support Group from 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday, upstairs in the Legion hall, free to military, veterans, corrections workers, CBSA and emergency services personnel.

“This is the whole point of having these groups here,” said Legion executive member Ken Smalko.

“Without this Legion, we can’t help our veterans who are struggling with paying for rent and dental work, so I’m very passionate about keeping this place alive,” Soper added.

The couple has been working diligently, along with the rest of the executive team, to renovate and modernize the facility, and to let people know that the Legion is open on a daily basis to everyone, not only members.

In addition to free weekly concerts, there's a dart league, and reasonably priced drinks, as well as ongoing draws.

“It’s not just about old men playing snooker,” said Smalko.

For more information, visit the legion website

 


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Cathy Pelletier

About the Author: Cathy Pelletier

Cathy Pelletier is an award-winning newspaper journalist/editor who writes for ThoroldNews.com
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