9th Canal Pursuit for Mental Health makes stop in Peterborough

Clay Williams has jogged 1000’s of kilometres in assistance of mental wellness initiatives — and he’s demonstrating no indicators of slowing down.

Williams arrived in Peterborough, Ont., on Monday evening immediately after functioning from Bobcaygeon as component of the ninth once-a-year Canal Pursuit for Mental Health and fitness. In the initially party in 2015, regarded a “one-off,” he ran 700 kilometres together the Trent-Severn Waterway and Rideau Canal, beginning in Port Severn and ending in Ottawa.

The goal was to raise awareness of mental well being issues when boosting money for the Temper Problems Society of Canada’s Defeat Despair Marketing campaign.

The initial two several years, Williams concluded the system by himself. Now the occasion has grown, with up to 40 registered runners taking part in 10- or 20-kilometre segments in their waterway communities to assist the result in, raising above $110,000.

A number of runners left the Peterborough Elevate Lock on Tuesday morning — Working day 4 of the pursuit — en route to Frankford. This year’s version is focusing on to start with responders and the army.

“While I was training for this initially, I received to study about Canada’s mental overall health program,” Williams said. “It’s in its infancy and it requires a little get the job done.”

Before the initial operate, he requested folks suffering from melancholy, nervousness or submit-traumatic distress disorder to indication a Canadian flag. He carried the flag during the comprehensive length of the run so “they do not have to have their burdens alone.” Now relay runners assist have the flag as they all head to Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Williams has viewed initially-hand the struggles of mental wellness, as his wife, daughter and sister put up with from mood diseases. Two of his older brothers also died by suicide.

“The largest issue at the time was the stigma about mental wellbeing challenges,” Williams stated. “I’m not a therapist or a counsellor, and I simply cannot assist folks by speaking with them like a counsellor would, but I can maintain the dialogue all-around mental well being likely, so that’s been the key target of this run.”

Amongst the runners on this year’s operate was Cory Robinson, who grew up in Peterborough but now resides in Belleville. He helped start Tuesday morning’s leg of the pursuit and ideas to do other jaunts in Belleville and Westport this 7 days.

“I’m executing this generally for the young children,” Robinson claimed. “I see a large amount of youth and observing their struggles in excess of the last couple of yrs has seriously enthusiastic me to get this carried out. To see what I can do to raise awareness because they really don’t talk  — just passing on the concept to just inquire how another person is performing … you by no means know.”

Robinson states he was honoured to return residence to operate alongside the canal he skated on throughout the winter season and past some family members farms in the place. He at present sales opportunities all fundraisers with much more than $1,200 lifted.

“It’s kind of neat to come back again right here and do one thing in an area that was so influential in my daily life,” he mentioned. “It’s fantastic to see (the operate). It is awesome to be a part of it since it (psychological wellness) surely requirements to be talked about more.”

The pursuit’s donation web site and updates can be identified on line.

“The Temper Diseases Modern society of Canada is incredibly very pleased to assistance Clay Williams on this bodily hard marketing campaign that exemplifies one man’s passion to make a variation as the workforce operates tirelessly,” MDSC countrywide govt director Dave Gallson said. “So far too should we all stop and notice that psychological sickness impacts us all and we all require to appear together and assist improve inside mental overall health in Canada.”

Williams states there are presently ideas currently being designed for Year 10 of the pursuit.

“There are individuals I only see as soon as a calendar year on this operate and it’s gratifying to see,” Williams explained. “It’s not just me that drives this — I’m one particular of the primary organizers but there is no way I could do this without the need of the assist of all the individuals together the way.”

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Peterborough facility assisting 1st responders, navy personnel with psychological wellness struggles

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