TORONTO — Double amputee Master Cpl. Jody Mitic was in his glory Sunday as sprinted across the finish line at the Achilles Canada five-kilometre run with fellow soldiers and the military's top boss.

"I am blown away by the support of my brothers-in-arms," Mitic said after completing the run in 38 minutes to raise money for St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital.

"The support from the Canadian military has been awesome."

Members of his unit -- 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, based in CFB Petawawa -- passed a hat and raised $7,000 for the cause.

Mitic, 31, was joined downtown by 1,500 runners, walkers, and disabled athletes for the event that is expected to raise $100,000 to purchase equipment for the hospital.

The athletes were cheered by hundreds of supporters as they circled an area near the Rogers Centre and CN Tower.

Mitic lost both legs after stepping on a landmine during a January 2007 tour of Afghanistan.

He ended up at St. John's where he promised to give something back to the 160-bed hospital.

Fellow amputee, Cpl. Michael Barnewall, 28, added he wouldn't miss the run for the world.

"I am just hoping to finish," Barnewall said. "It's really good to be here to support such a good cause."

Barnewall, who's from the Windsor area, suffered severe lower body injuries, including the loss of a foot, after stepping on a land mine in November 2006 in Afghanistan. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment.

Hospital president Malcolm Moffat said Mitic is an inspiration for patients at St. John's.

"He has inspired other patients to stretch their goals," Moffat said. "Many others look up to him because he went ahead and did it."

Gen. Walt Natynczyk, Canada's chief of defence staff, said the military will always stand behind its soldiers.

"I am here to show that the Canadian military leadership cares," Natynczyk said after finishing the run. "We care for each one of our men and women in the military."

He said more than 100 soldiers have lost limbs since Canadian troops were first sent to Afghanistan.