PTBOCanada Pics: Clara Hughes Comes To Peterborough For #ClarasBigRide

The amazing and inspiring Clara Hughes—who Christie Blatchford calls "this generation’s Terry Fox"—arrived in Peterborough Saturday (March 22nd) as part of her 12,000 kilometre Clara's Big Ride journey to raise awareness about mental health and erase the stigma associated with mental illness. Clara, who was won multiple Olympic medals in cycles and speed skating, has herself battled depression for years. Her 110 day bicycle ride will take her to 95 communities across Canada. She spoke highly of Peterborough and its attention given to mental health initiatives. She wants this ride across the country to be epic and called it "Canada's Big Ride". Props to the local Canadian Mental Health Association chapter for bringing Clara to Peterborough. Here's pictures from her day in town...

[picture via Liz Shaughnessy]

Clara with her support riders, including her husband, Peter Guzman. [picture via Liz Shaughnessy]

[picture via Liz Shaughnessy]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Sign Up Now For 2014 YWCA Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

The 2014 YWCA Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event takes place Friday, May 30th, starting at noon at Peterborough City Hall. You can register here for the event, or sponsor a walker or team here.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Peterborough Entrepreneur's Unique Company Uses Art To Help Those With Dementia

Peterborough start-up company The Work of Art—last year’s winner of the Bears' Lair entrepreneurial contest in Peterborough—breathes new life into those living with Alzheimer disease and dementia.

Its creator, Janet Howse, an artist and Recreation Therapist specializing in art programming for dementia, believes art has the ability to improve the quality of life for those living with Alzheimer and dementia (there are currently almost 6 million people suffering from dementia in North America, and this number is expected to double by 2030). 

“In 2003 I took a job running art programs on the secure dementia unit in a Long Term Care facility," says Howse. "At the time, I knew little about dementia and had never worked with seniors. I was drawn to the job because of the art aspect but what I discovered was a deep love, passion and commitment to folks living with this debilitating disease.”

For the past 10 years, she has worked in recreation therapy running art studios, one-on-one sessions and professional training for people with dementia and their caregivers. She has seen first-hand what an incredible tool art is for people living with dementia, and believes it is a fantastic aid for caregivers who struggle to find a way to connect with those suffering.

As such, Howse developed all-inclusive painting kits that can be used by anyone but are specifically designed to help bypass the limitations experienced by someone with dementia. She has created an Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds for the production of the first 1,000 demential-specific painting kits, which is her biggest hurdle right now (once the first run has been produced, costs will go down, and the business will be sustainable).

Learn more about her unique painting kits in this video below, and visit her website here.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

The Amazing Camp That Gives Hope To Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones

Peterborough's Shelley Hermer is Ontario Program Coordinator for Camp Kerry Society. Here, she gives us an insider look at the impact of Camp Kerry retreats in British Columbia—which use a holistic approach to bereavement care where emphasis is placed on healing both within and between families—and writes about the first Camp Kerry Ontario being established.

Camp Kerry offers family retreats and year-round support programs for children, youth and parents who are grieving the death of a loved one. The camp is named after British Columbian Kerry Kirstiuk, an inspiring mother of two young children, who lost her battle to colon cancer in 2006. Designed and overseen by family bereavement expert Dr. Heather Mohan, Camp Kerry began in 2007 as a pilot project after Kerry's husband Bob requested that donations in her memory be given to Dr. Mohan's program at Lions' Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. 

Shelley Hermer (above left) at Camp Kerry in BC

Dr. Mohan's response was immediate, fulfilling a long-standing dream to run a family bereavement camp. Since then, more than 150 families in British Columbia have benefited from these specialized services. In 2011, Camp Kerry officially separated from Lions Gate Hospital and was incorporated as an independent Canadian charity.

In 2011, I traveled to BC to volunteer at Camp Kerry and since then have been working towards bringing this exceptional and unique program to Ontario. With the approval of the Camp Kerry Society Board of Directors, we have set a goal to bring 10 Ontario families to the first Camp Kerry Ontario retreat in October 2014, held in the beautiful Haliburton Highlands.

Camp Kerry retreat in BC.

Parents often describe their biggest worry is that they—and their children—won’t recover from the loss of their loved one. They talk about the balance of needing to keep old memories alive and creating new ones. Children and parents convey their desire to see their family enjoy life.

Camp Kerry retreat in BC.

At the retreats, so much happens for families. Yes, there are tears—the Saturday evening memory service and Sunday afternoon message balloon release allow families the chance to openly remember their loved ones. Parents and children participate in groups led by professional therapists, providing opportunities to share and receive peer support. Key to the model is the therapeutic use of art, music and adventure challenges in a natural setting. In the words of one parent, "we experienced what we never thought possible."

Camp Kerry retreat in BC.

Fundraising and events to help raise awareness about this Camp Kerry Ontario retreat are in the works, involving support from and collaboration with Peterborough and area community organizations. If you would like to be part of the first Camp Kerry Ontario—either by offering financial support, assisting at events, volunteering your time, or if you simply would like more information—please contact me at shelley@campkerry.org.

—By Shelley Hermer

Here's some more pictures below from Camp Kerry in BC, as well as a YouTube video about the camp...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Spirit Of Play February 16th At Sport And Wellness Centre To Bring Play & Laughter To Kids In Haiti

There is a special "family play day" this Sunday (February 16th) at Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre to raise money to bring play and laughter to kids in Haiti. Activities will be coordinated by kids health expert David Kittner. See the poster below for more info.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Today Is #BellLetsTalk Day

Millions of Canadians suffer from mental illness in silence. Today (January 28th) is the 4th Annual Bell Let's Talk day, where Canadians break the silence around mental illness and raise money to support mental health iniatives across the country. The more talk, the more action to help those in need.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Art For Awareness Special Screening Of 'Erasing The Stigma' On Bell Let's Talk Day

This Tuesday, January 28th at 7:00 pm at Market Hall, Art For Awareness will be screening the DVD of their recent, original multimedia dance production Erasing the Stigma for local organizations. Art for Awareness (AFA) is a group of dedicated people committed to producing high-quality theatre with a social message. Erasing the Stigma addresses depression, anxiety disorders, postpartum depression, schizophrenia, addiction, eating disorders, the culture of technology/social media, suicide, the justice system, coping mechanisms, support workers, medication, and building hope through the use of real testimony via video clips, live music, original choreography and spoken word. The show seeks to normalize the struggles faced by people living with mental health issues in an educational, entertaining, and compassionate way. For more info on Art For Awareness and Erasing the Stigma DVD, email here. We covered Erasing the Stigma last year here.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Watch This Promo With Cancer Survivor Courtney Druce For Pink In The Rink

Courtney Druce is a 4-time cancer survivor. Watch this promo she did for Canadian Cancer Society's Pink in the Rink fundraiser taking place February 6th at the Memorial Centre when the Peterborough Petes play Oshawa. Learn more about her here and how to donate.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Peterborough Mother Launches Indiegogo Campaign To Save Her Daughter From Dying Of Eating Disorder

Ingrid

[UPDATE: Huffington Post Canada picks up our story.]

Peterborough mother Susan Nelson has launched an impassioned Indiegogo campaign to help save her daughter Ingrid, who is fighting a serious Eating Disorder—and right now losing the battle.

Ingrid, 23, is in immediate need of being transferred from her current placement in a hospital in Ontario to a specialized residential ED program for life saving treatment. But Provincial Health Insurance does not cover residential treatment of Eating Disorders, so the family find themselves facing having to pay for Ingrid's treatment—something they simply can't afford to do.

The costs include four months at an Ontario residential treatment centre followed by months of private aftercare programs—both not covered by insurance. 

Susan says on the Indiegogo campaign that not being able to afford treatment for their daughter is simply "one of the worst feelings any parent can imagine. There's nothing left for us to do other than ask for help from our extended community and beyond."

Ingrid, who is afraid she is going to die from the disorder—"I am barely alive," she says—writes that "Without a program, my eating disorder is becoming stronger and more intense, and I feel increasingly hopeless and consumed by this disease. My illness has progressed to a level out of my control. Unfortunately, they aren't experienced with eating disorders here at the hospital and I have continued to decline both mentally and physically. It is difficult for me to write honestly about the state I am in right now, as a huge part of my illness tries to minimize and ignore the severity of its hold on my life. But I have to push myself to face this reality, and to make others aware of what is happening."

Just days into the campaign, the family has already raised nearly $8,000 of their $60,000 goal—with 44 days left in the campaign.  [**UPDATE January 16th: They've now raised close to $15,000.]

Make a difference: Help save Ingrid's life by donating to this campaign to raise money for the family to get her into the specialized program.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

If I Could Tweet Right Now, Here's What I'd Tweet

Peterborough's local and global world-changer Maryam Monsef is in another corner of the planet where she can't tweet as social media and many websites are censored/blocked there (we won't reveal location as it could make it unsafe for people she is with, she tells us).

We asked her in an email if she could tweet out a message (she loves Twitter, and the power of social media) to people back home in Peterborough and Canada, what would she say? Here it goes, and she asked us to share this with all of you...

"If I could tweet right now, I'd tweet about the reality check I got upon arriving here. I'd tweet about my health. How much I appreciate being an able bodied person and how stupid I was to do things to jeopardize it.

If I could tweet right now, I'd tweet about how much I miss being my own person in Canada, the ability to work, socialize, and to contribute to society. I can't go anywhere alone here. I can't be spontaneous. I am not encouraged to seek adventures. I am indoors 99% of the time and I miss riding my bike downtown.

If I could tweet right now, I'd tweet about how grateful I am to have a Canadian passport. That piece of paper guarantees me a safe and secure life in Canada, and the opportunity to visit any country in the world without the hassles the people here face.

If I could tweet right now, I'd tweet about my newfound appreciation for Family. The people who love you unconditionally, share sweet and not so sweet memories with you and want the very best for you. I have that kind of a family here and am blessed with the same kind of love from my Peterborough community.

If I could tweet right now, I'd tweet about the amazing little women who have declared themselves to the country's Red Pashmina reps and are determined to collect nominations of local women of impact, just as we have in Peterborough.

Basically, if I could tweet right now, I would be overtweeting more than ever because having so much to say and not having access to my favourite social media platforms is not good for my heart ;)

My goal for 2014 is to make better use of the skills, means and liberties my Canadian life affords me. Now I know without a doubt that I am the lucky 1%."

—Maryam Monsef

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.