Lieutenant-Colonel Dan Bobbitt—my dad—dedicated over 25 years to the Canadian Armed Forces. He joined the Reserves in 1988 and the Regular Forces in 1990, devoting countless hours to a life of service. Throughout his career, he served in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and during the Manitoba floods. My dad had one clear purpose in uniform: to protect his country and to protect his soldiers.
Tragically, my dad passed away on May 21st, 2014, during Exercise Maple Resolve in Wainwright, Alberta. At the time, he was the Commanding Officer of 2RCHA in Petawawa, Ontario. I was just 14 years old.
There are so many things I remember about him, but one that always sticks with me is how much he loved to run. Whether it was for morning PT or just on his own time, running was something he genuinely enjoyed—not to compete, not to prove anything, but just for the love of it. He was the kind of person who could go months without running, then decide on a whim to head out—and somehow, he never missed a step. (I really wish that part was genetic.)
I’ll never forget him coming home drenched in sweat from a run—something I, unfortunately, inherited too—in his PT gear. I especially loved when he’d go out early and come home while I was the only one awake, so we could sit and eat breakfast together at the kitchen table, just the two of us.
This will be the second time I’m running in Canada Army Run. I carry him with me every step of the way—not just as a memory, but as my motivation, my strength, and my reason for pushing forward when things get hard.
I run because he ran.
I run to honour his life, his service, and the love he showed our family every day.
And most of all, I run because I know he’d be proud.
Love you always, Dad. This run is for you.