Colonsay’s Erik Foster wraps-up inaugural Ride to Survive

Foster is a volunteer firefighter of over 10 years and was diagnosed with PTSD two years ago. The diagnosis came from a call that he responded to in his home community that kept him awake for several days and was later followed by another call that led to the inability to sleep for more than just a couple hours at a time.

Going into the ride, Foster wanted to get his story out to firefighters and first responders who are at risk of seeing traumatic incidents as well as their families.

The trek began on February 17 from Foster’s home in Colonsay with his 15-year-old son, Kaine, alongside him. The first day was a -30 Celsius start and both Tuesday and Wednesday hovered around -40 C.

“Those were some hard days because we had to cut across fields and also experienced some frostbite but we succeeded,” Foster said.

Erik and Kaine’s journey took them from Colonsay to Saskatoon before heading to Prince Albert and the northeast. The journey concluded on February 22 with a stop in Naicam and Humboldt prior to returning home in Colonsay the following day.

Erik and Kaine Foster make a stop at the Tisdale fire department as part of Ride to Survive. (Facebook/Erik Foster – Ride to Survive)

The Fosters were joined by a few different riders at different points in the ride which helped them greatly. Foster said there was one gentleman that stood out to him.

“He had got out of the military a number of years ago and when I was speaking about what was going on with me, it was like it was the first time that he talked to a civilian that was dealing with the exact same thing,” Foster said.

The impact of the ride has Foster looking ahead on how to spread his message. He said some of his ideas include horseback riding, quadding, or even just meeting at a baseball games.

“Just where we can meet and not so much talk about the problems of PTSD but just talk amongst ourselves to realize that we are just normal and the same,” Foster said. “I think it is going to open up a new light here in Saskatchewan”

Another big part of understanding PTSD and its signs and symptoms is also communication and love, he said.

Having that support of loved ones was evident in having his son with him on the journey.

“This ride has truly given him a new understanding of this self-love and self expression,” Foster said. “The bond for me and him has grown even stronger than it was before too.”

Speaking with fire chiefs and at the fire halls was such a valuable experience for Foster and his efforts.

“They didn’t have to do this and they did and they accepted it and it was incredible — that is the only word for it,” Foster said.

Foster said he will keep thinking about the positives going forward including the important people that came out to support them and listen to their messages.

For those that he wasn’t able to see along the ride, he wanted to share a message.

“Please learn the symptoms of PTSD, please amongst your families talk about that self-love and why you’re important and open up that dialogue in the family and that I think could in turn help the entire community,” he said.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

by Angie Rolheiser

Colonsay’s Erik Foster wraps-up inaugural Ride to Survive

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