Relay run along Rideau, TSW for mental health
A mental health advocate leading a relay run along the Trent-Severn Waterway is looking to area residents to pick up a leg of the trek.
Clay Williams is heading the Canal Pursuit for Mental Health, a campaign raising money and awareness for mood disorders.
“It’s something that needs attention, for sure,” said Williams.
The roughly 780-kilometre route loosely follows the Trent-Severn Waterway from Port Severn to Trenton, then over to Kingston and along the Rideau Canal to Ottawa.
The run starts Friday and wraps up Sept. 1 at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill.
Williams and runners will be arriving at the Peterborough Lift Lock on Sunday, leaving from the lock Monday at 6 a.m. He’s staying in his RV at The Mount Community Centre Sunday night and welcomes residents to pop by to say hello.
An avid runner, Williams started the run three years ago in honour of his wife, daughter and sister who suffer from mood disorders and also in memory of his two older brothers who took their lives.
The Canal Pursuit for Mental Health raises money for Defeat Depression, a campaign of Mood Disorders Society of Canada. It’s a charitable organization that raises awareness of mood disorders and works to break down barriers for those who suffer from them.
Williams, 57, ran the stretch himself for the first two years. But this time, he’s reaching out to community members for help.
“It was really hard,” he said of the run.
Runners are asked to run a 10-km stretch, passing “the football” to the next runner to carry on.
“The football” is a pack made up of a GPS tracker and a Canadian flag bearing hundreds of signatures.
Before Williams left on his initial run, he asked people to sign the flag if they or anyone they knew was struggling with a mood disorders.
“And I’ll carry it the full distance of my run up to Parliament Hill as a symbol that you don’t have to carry your burdens alone,” he told them.
In 2015, the father of two raised more than $12,000 for Defeat Depression. In 2016, he collected about $9,000.
Williams is aiming for $10,000 this year and hopes runners who step up to help out will raise a bit of cash, too.
So far one resident from Peterborough has signed up to run.
Whenever Williams is short on runners, he and his volunteer coordinator will pick up a stretch.
Runners can sign up in pairs or teams, or run alone. They can take on more than one 10-km jaunt, too, Williams said.
During the last two events, Williams said he tried to take the time to talk to people he saw along the route, engaging in conversations about mental health.
His message to anyone struggling with their mental health is two fold.
“If you’re a dark place, talk to someone you trust… someone you know has your best interests at heart,” he said.
He also encourages people to get moving when they’re feeling down and out.
“Put your running shoes or walking shoes on and go move around, it definitely helps to create a few endorphins and will change our outlook on things.”
NOTE: To sign up to run or make a donation to Canal Pursuit for Mental Health, go online to www.mdsc.akaraisin.com/common/event/home. aspx?seid=13598&mid=8