Ep. #215. Todd Martin, Veteran, Musician, founder of Re-Cycle Okotoks

Do you remember your first bike? Todd Martin sure does, it was gifted to him, as his family couldn't afford one. Now, he's paying it forward by fixing up, and distributing used bikes to thousands of kids.

In addition to helping so many children, Todd is also a fundraiser and advocate for Veterans Mental health.

Todd's massive efforts have recently received National recognition, and he has received the "Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation".

From Brent Calver of the Western Wheel:

An Okotoks veteran has been recognized at the national level for helping his comrades.

Todd Martin, a veteran of the 1990s Yugoslavia conflict and prolific community volunteer, was presented with the The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation Award during a virtual presentation by the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs.

The award was in recognition of Martin’s extensive efforts and volunteerism to raise funds and awareness for veterans and mental health, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other similar operational stress injuries.

“The typical mantra in the military is you’ve got to look out for each other,” said Martin, a retired Army mechanic and member of the Okotoks Legion Branch 291. “And even though I’m out of the military, I had a network and connectivity, I had energy, why wouldn’t I do something to help them?”

While he didn’t find himself affected by PTSD, he saw the effects first-hand with others who served, and saw the need to do more.

“The thing that drove me to do this was recognizing there was a need for privately funded organizations to put up mental health programming for ex-military folks,” Martin said.

“It’s driven out of the need of having to do something, because if there’s a need, there’s an opportunity to do something.”

n June 2019 Martin took part in the Battlefield Bike Ride, a 670km ride from Dieppe, France to Juno Beach on the 75th anniversary of D-Day with Wounded Warriors.

Through the ride he raised over $17,000 for Wounded Warriors, a charity supporting veterans suffering with PTSD.

Martin was slated for another ride in 2020 through The Netherlands, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He hopes to take part in a 2022 ride.

In 2021 he also took part in the stressful activity of caving to raise funds for the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry (PPCLI) Foundation, which similarly supports veterans, where he raised $3,808.

“Simply put, whether it’s with Wounded Warriors, the PPCLI or cycling or whatever it is, if there’s something that needs to be done and I’m able to help them do it, I want to be a part of it,” he said.

That nomination, Martin said, was the product of his friend Wayne Krause and wife Sharon Martin ‘conspiring’ with the help of Legion Branch 291 (Okotoks) President Bob McLeod.

“Todd is certainly a unique sort of individual, he gives so much of himself to the community and to veterans and our branch,” McLeod said.

“Really any activity that’s supporting veterans, Todd is in there with both feet, and he’s done so much. And it’s not just a think that he does, but what’s on his mind, like what we can do to help veterans and what we can do in the Branch to help veterans better.