On Saturday, May 12 I’ll be running in the SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run for Women as part of the team Women in Wealth for Mental Health. This is one of the community initiatives that we participate in as the informal professional group Women in Wealth Ottawa, the group I introduced you to last week.
Running in the May 12th event is a way we can give back to our community and get the word out about our group. We’re always looking to include more women, offering collaboration. mentorship and camaraderie to women in wealth management careers. Like our group itself, there’s nothing competitive about this run. It’s all about supporting each other to reach personal bests.
The SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run is a good fit for Women in Wealth Ottawa – not all of us are runners, but we all recognize that exercise keeps us healthy, and grounded.
And the SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run advocates running for better mental health – a cause close to our hearts.
Many Women in Wealth Ottawa members have experience coping with and caring for family members with mental health issues. And in our work in Wealth Management, unfortunately we’ve all seen the devastating effects on individuals and families of
- Diminished financial capacity
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Gambling
- Suicide
The needle isn’t moving as fast as we’d like. Our health care system definitely needs more money for mental health care and research.
Here’s the good news. Since partnering with the SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run, The Royal’s Women’s Mental Health program has received almost $500,000 in funding. The first year about 600 runners raised $26,000. Last year, 2448 runners raised over $247,000! This year the organizers hope more than 3000 runners will turn up to raise over $300,000.
Money is raised through registration, and at Shoppers Drug Mart locations. So when you get asked if you’d like to give a couple of dollars, consider saying yes, writing your name on a little paper shoe cut out, and proudly adding it to the display of shoes taped in the window.
Teams do their own fundraising too. Women in Wealth for Mental Health is pleased to have the support of some of our suppliers. Thank you! Find out more about the run here: http://www.runforwomen.ca/Our-Story.aspx and if you’re inspired to give, I invite you to donate through our team link: http://run.convio.net/goto/WIWO
Do you run? Do you find that exercise helps you ease the stress of the day? Leave a comment through our Contact Us page. And let me know if you’ll be at the May 12th SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run in Ottawa so we can high-five for women’s mental health. I’m also a Foundation board member, so if you ever want to know more about research at the Royal, please get in touch by email.