Cody Duhaime Memorial Walk organizers plan another successful event this year.
Event organizer Joanne Lewchuk spoke with the News-Optimist recently.
“With everything that’s going on around Battlefords and area we just figured it’s needed and the funding is definitely needed,” Lewchuk said.
The walk’s name commemorates Cody Duhaime, who took his life in 2015. He was 19. Duhaime’s grandmother, Sylvia, of Meota, is also organizing the event.
Lewchuk said last year’s walk brought in $17,000. Money was donated to the Battlefords Mental Health Centre.
“$20,000 would be nice this year,” Lewchuk said, “but we just want awareness out there too,” adding it’s important for families to talk and to open the door for conversation.
“If we can help one child not take their life, that would be reward right there.”
How Lewchuk looks at it, “If you had high blood pressure, you take a pill. If you have mental illness, depression anxiety, you take a pill.”
Turnout last year was 107 walkers, and they came from the Battlefords, north of Meadow Lake and Alberta.
The wiener roast is planned to feed 200 people.
As with last year, the walk will be five km.
There is now a Facebook page so participants can print the registration sheet from the website. Registration costs $20 for adults and $10 for children.
Lewchuk said many door prizes are coming in, along with prizes for a silent auction and she thanked the sponsors and donors. Just about everybody who walked got a door prize last year, she said.
“Come out and support mental health,” Lewchuk said, “We don't want Cody’s name to ever be forgotten and this is the way we can do it.”
