Taking That First Step

Heroes Remember

Taking That First Step

Transcript

The Soldier On program is great but they are not, you have to take that first step. If anyone takes that first step towards Soldier On, there’s going to be, you know, there’s a hundred hands out there that are going to help you along the way but you have to take that first step. That’s something I think that we all learn or maybe forgot that we learned in the military was you’re not going to get anywhere unless you take the initiative to do it so no one is going, if you sit back no one is going to come and say hey and hand you what you want. You’ve got to go out and get it and I think that Soldier On program is if you take the first step to apply and get to a camp, you are setting yourself up for success and down the road to a good rehab program. And what I love about golf is that some of the activities, you know, an hour here but golf is four hours, four and a half hours you are out in a golf course and you’re realizing you are meeting these other injured soldiers that you’re not alone because a lot of these times you get to these camps the first day and nobody is talking to each other and by four days later you can’t get them to stop talking to each other and that’s the power of what I think of bringing people together through that Soldier On program. And it goes beyond that because I have seen through our Facebook pages and stuff of people who have connected and they regularly go out and do these activities together beyond the Soldier On program but it was the Soldier On program that brought them together and pushed them in the right direction but again they have to take that first step. And someone who comes to Soldier On program may know someone at home and say, “Hey, come with me!” or go do it and this is what I did or they will see that result from the Soldier On program. So I think it’s a great, great format to get people out and active. And that’s what we were in the military, we were always out and active.

Description

Mr. Feyko tells how the Soldier On program can help fellow comrades by inspiring them to take the initiative and seek assistance that is available.

Michael Feyko

Mr. Michael Feyko was born July 12, 1970 in Windsor, Ontario. Immediately out of high school, Mr. Feyko joined the military and held rank of private with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. He attended battle school in Wainwright, Alberta. First deploying to Norway, Mr. Feyko then continued on with tours to Cyprus and to Somalia. Realizing his true passion was to be a jumper and following his desire to gain a career with Search & Rescue, Mr. Feyko found himself back in Canada with the SkyHawks attending many air shows across the country. While in Edmonton, Mr. Feyko was involved in a parachute accident where he was left with a lifetime injury. With major injury to his body, Mr. Feyko rehabilitated himself back into civilian life and in 2000 a decision was made for medical discharge. With great determination and desire to continue life as it was prior to his injury, Mr. Feyko was inspired by the Soldier On program and assisted as coach of the Team Canada Golf Team leading them to five medals at the Invictus Games held in Toronto, Ontario September 2017. Now married and with a family, Mr. Feyko enjoys a career as a PGA golf pro and continues to train golfers who are part of Soldier On in preparing for the next Invictus Games to be held in Sydney, Australia.

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