EMS Tim Horton's project gives Canadian troops coffee and smiles Special

Toronto - For the men and women far away in Afghanistan serving Canada the holidays can be difficult. The Toronto EMS has worked hard for the past three years to bring a touch of home and a thank you with the Share A Cup With A Brave Canuck! program.

The goal of the program is to give each and every member of the armed forces serving Canada a $10.00 Tim Card along with thank yous from those at home. While these brave men and women serving in Kandahar are far from home they are close to a Tim Hortons. That's right Tim Horton's has traveled across the oceans to the military base serving our troops! The program is the brainchild of Commander Ric Rangel-Bron, EMS Operations Support. Ric is a big man with a heart that doesn't stop. We had the time to sit down and talk about the program and how it began. The Toronto EMS are big givers and they have always backed the military. In fact they are such big givers that truckloads of gifts are shipped from Toronto to Montreal for the troops. Those gifts are wonderful but they can come with special problems including customs. While on a car trip with an EMS friend who really wanted a cup of coffee Ric thought up the Share A Cup With A Brave Canuck! idea. "My friend kept mentioning he wanted a Timmy's. I am one of those drivers that keeps on going, not stopping for anything other than a restroom break and petrol." Tim Horton's is as Canadian as the bravery shown by the troops. Canadians flock to the coffee house day in and day out. Ric, a reservist himself, knew that his friends in the military often stopped on their way into work at Tim Horton's. Ric knew that giving the $10 cards to the troops would be a welcome gift but he wanted the program to be more than just a cup of coffee. "These men and women sacfrice so much for us here in Canada. They give up their lives so that we can be free." When you give to the Share A Cup With A Brave Canuck! you are asked to give a message of thanks for the troops. In fact that message is more important, if you can't afford to donate a card you can still send a message from home to those serving so far away. The program runs throughout the year, not just during the holidays. "Torontorians are fantastic. They have helped us to go over our goals every year." Ric smiled, "Tim Hortons is also terrific. The company has helped us with this project so much and stays in the background." You can go to any Tim Hortons outlet to purchase the Tim Cards you want to send. Share A Cup With A Brave Canuck! asks that the cards be in $10.00 denominations. Please the receipt in the Tim Card envelope behind the actual card. Now comes the most important part, write a personal message of the flap of the envelop. Send your gift to: Share A Cup With A Brave Canuck! Toronto Emergency Medical Services 4330 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario Canada, M3H 5R9 Attn: Ric Rangel-Bron On Thursday at EMS headquarters in Toronto at 4330 Dufferin the hand over of $10.00 Tim Horton gift certificates will take place. Their goal of sharing a cup with every Canadian Forces member in Khandahar has been achieved. Students who have collected cards will be here to hand them over as well as troops just back from Khandahar. If you have the time come out and celebrate with our brave EMS as they celebrate this wonderful feat.