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Man on a mission

CFB Esquimalt Navy 10K run marks inaugural partnership

Yves Provost is not one to back down when the going gets tough.

He has been through a diabetes diagnosis and raised more than $500,000 for diabetes research by cycling from Victoria to Halifax in 2009. He continues to champion the well-being of nine million other Canadians living with diabetes and pre-diabetes.

"I'm a bit of a nut," Provost said with a laugh. "I set myself to doing something and I have a hard time turning away."

The 54-year-old retired military member will take part in the CFB Esquimalt Navy 10-kilometre charity run for diabetes on Sunday (Aug. 14).

It's the first time the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Diabetes Association have joined together on a fundraising event.

Money raised support ongoing medial research and summer camps for children  with diabetes.

The need to provide a helping hand, Provost said, is greater now than ever before.

"This disease is creeping in on our society like wildfire," said Provost, who works as a civilian at Canadian Forces Fleet School in Esquimalt.

The charity run has been in the planning stages since January, and efforts quickly ramped up once the military came on board.

"They spread their arms right away and said, 'It's going to be a great event,'" said Provost.

The hope is the run will become an annual event, and one that catches on at other military bases across the country.

"It's just like a ball," said Provost. "It rolls and people pick it up.

"It's a good cause and nobody backs away from good causes."

Participants are encouraged to collect pledges for the event, which gets underway at 8:30 a.m. at CFB Esquimalt's Naden Athletic Centre.

To pre-register for the five- or 10-kilometre walk or run – there will also be a children's one-kilometre event – please visit www.events.runningroom.com, call 1-800-665-6526 ext. 246, or email rebecca.taylor@diabetes.ca.