Military cadets won’t be getting much sleep during Operation Eyes Wide Open.
More than a hundred sea, air and army cadets will participate in the inaugural event next Saturday. The operation will have cadets staying awake for 24-hours in support of the Regional Food Distribution Association.
Chief Petty Officer First Class Aaron Bogensberger said he`ll be participating at the event held at the HMCS Griffon quarter hall. The 18-year-old said when he doesn’t get enough sleep he usually avoids people but doesn’t get cranky. He planned to listen to music the entire night as well as play some of the games in order to keep moving.
“If some cadets do occasionally fall asleep then we have officers walking around with air horns to make sure they don’t,” Bogensberger said. “When I don’t get enough sleep I try to ignore people. Sea, air and army cadets don’t just do things for themselves. They do things everyone else as well. They do lots of community service. They’re very helpful.”
Bogensberger said the event was a good way to raise awareness for the RFDA as well as for cadets. What attracted Bogensberger to cadets was the idea of traveling across the country. He said cadets’ gives people endless opportunities.
Andrew Wilson, public affairs officer for Cadets Canada, said they hoped to raise about a ton of food through the event. People can donate non-perishable foods or money at the HMCS Griffon headquarters on Algoma Street.
Even if they aren’t able to reach their goal, Wilson said they want to make this an annual event.
“The idea of this event is to open the eyes of the community to poverty and starvation,” Wilson said. “During Christmas time we have a lot of people coming out and giving to our local food banks but it isn’t just Christmas time when they need support. They need support all year round.”
The event officials starts on Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. HMCS Griffon headquarters on Algoma Street.
