Description
Major Feyko shares a message about the challenges of overcoming an illness or injury and wants all Canadians to know there is help out there.
Jay Feyko
Mr. Jay Feyko was born April 25, 1973 in Windsor, Ontario. While attending Trenton University, unsure of his future, Mr. Feyko decided to join the military under a three year contract with the Canadian Forces. After having the opportunity to be honour guard in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, his inspiration for those who served before him led him to the decision to remain in the military. Joining as private under the 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, Infantry Division, Mr. Feyko deployed to Afghanistan under Operation Roto O holding rank of platoon commander. He was medically discharge and rose to the rank of major. Deployment to Afghanistan resulted in a severe injury when he became wounded after a suicide bomber detonated the vehicle he was travelling in. Not allowing his injuries to change his lifestyle, Mr. Feyko carried on with his career, accepting a position as senior manager of Soldier On where he continues present day in supporting and assisting other Veterans with challenges in life. Mr. Feyko was medically discharged from the Canadian military in June 2016 and continues to advocate for the needs of his fellow comrades. Mr. Feyko now resides in Ottawa, Ontario with his wife and children.
Transcript
Interviewer: Achieving the rank of major at the end of your career is certainly an honour for yourself and for us Canadians. And I am just going to open the floor before we conclude and
give you an opportunity to share anything you feel we as Canadians need to hear.
I think the only thing I would share is really a message to not only ill and injured members of the military but ill and injured members of Canadians that, you know, there are challenges and sometimes life does really get difficult. It’s difficult for a lot of folks but there are ways to adapt and overcome that adversity and continue to soldier on with whatever you want to do.
There’s no barriers. I’ve heard the term a lot this week, it’s not disability, it’s what we are able to do, it’s not what we can’t do which is very powerful. I think that message to Canadians is like
there’s lots of stuff that you can do to get better if you have those challenges or if you get an illness or injury, don’t stop being the person that you are. And if there are Canadians out there that want to support, Soldier On is a great vehicle to do that. And we have a great website, Soldieron.ca, or you can read the stories of the men and women who have served, who have received the illness or injury and what they are doing through sport to recover.