Wilden Trail Run Raises $8,000 for Youth Mental Health
Over 200 runners, walkers and volunteers were part of the “Wild One”, Wildens first annual Trail Run For Youth Mental Health.
With $2,500 donations from participants and proceeds from the registration fees and $1,500 donated by Wilden’s partner company GeoTility were matched by the Blenk family, the developers of Wilden, which brought funds raised to a total of $8,000.
Wildens initiatives for Youth Mental Health are groundwork to building strong communities. The amazing turn-out of the first Wilden trail run on October 14th, 2018, clearly shows that this purpose is close to the hearts of many.
The Wild One run organizers made sure there was something for everyone: a 5 kilometer walk, a 5K and 10K trail race, a dog course and a kids run. All courses lead through the stunning Wilden backcountry with its challenging topography. Runners and walkers were rewarded with spectacular views along the way, lots of sun and a community celebration with food, life music and awards at the finish line.
The Blenk family has been working with the Kelowna Hospital Foundation on improving mental health resources for young people in Kelowna since Spring 2017. In addition to supporting the Foundry, a place where youth and parents affected can access holistic help, the Blenk family is also involved in research and education surrounding youth suicide prevention.
“It is clear that the youth mental health crisis touches everybody’s life in one way or another”, says Karin Eger-Blenk, Chair of the Board at Blenk Development Corp. “We have to act together in order to help the young generation grow strong and healthy." “The Blenk family’s commitment to community has been felt in Kelowna for years,” says Allison Ramchuk, Director of Development for the KGH Foundation. “Tragically in 2017 they lost a family member to depression. While working through this devastating loss, the family turned to philanthropy as a way to help them heal and this inspired a focused mission of understanding youth depression and suicide and what can be done to prevent it.”
Every day, between 12 and 15 young people, aged 12 – 24 are accessing walk-in counselling services at the Foundry in Kelowna, and nearly twothirds of them are seeking help for the first time ever.
In the twelve months since opening, Foundry welcomed over 1500 youth, for a total of over 4,300 visits to all services. The numbers clearly demonstrate the need for Foundry Kelowna’s early intervention and integrated care model.